Activities
Georgian Coalition for the International Criminal Court promotes the accountability for the crimes belonging to the jurisdiction of International Criminal Court – genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and aggression – and ensuring of reparations for victims of such crimes at local and international level.
The main objectives of the GCICC are:
- To document the crimes falling under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court;
- To protect the interests of victims of the crimes falling under the jurisdiction of the ICC and to support them on the national and international levels;
- To raise awareness of the victim community and general society about the ICC and the related issues;
- To cooperate with the ICC and to advocate the challenges;
To document the crimes falling under the jurisdiction of the ICC
The GCICC member organizations identify and document the crimes falling under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
In this direction, the GCICC member organizations documented war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the August 2008 War. Immediately after the intensive phase of the armed conflict was over, the representatives of the GCICC member organizations visited the IDP settlements and interviewed the IDPs about the crimes against themselves or their family members/relatives and about the harm they received. The data collected through interviews was reflected in the report “August Ruins”. In 2010, the report collected the human stories of 1055 victims and they were sent to the OTP of the International Criminal Court.
Considering the fact that the number of the victims of the 2008 August war was higher, in 2018, the GCICC member organizations organized more visits in IDP settlements. In total, they interviewed 2 417 IDP families to document the crimes committed against them during the conflict. The results of the interviews from 2019 were reflected in the report “10 Years After the August War – Victims of the Situation in Georgia”.
To defend the interests of the victims of the crimes falling under the jurisdiction of the ICC and to support them on the national and international levels
After the 2008 August War, the GCICC member organizations started intensive work to defend the interests of the victims. As a result, the GCICC member organizations represented the interests of the victims on the national level, in front of the European Court of Human Rights and the ICC.
After the 2008 August War, the member organizations provided the IDPs with free legal aid on national level over various legal issues. During years, the member organizations represented the victims in front of the investigative bodies, which were investigating the crimes committed during the 2008 August War and monitored the ongoing criminal proceedings. Apart to that, in case of necessity, the GCICC member organization (GCRT) provided the victims with the free psychological assistance.
After the war, the member organizations actively observed the ongoing investigation in Georgia and Russia. Considering the observed ineffectiveness of the domestic investigative bodies and for the purpose of restoring the justice for the victims, the member organizations many times called on the respective state institutions of Georgia and the Russian Federation to carry out effective investigation to restore justice and the rights of the people, who were victimized. In 2012, the member organizations addressed the OTP to launch investigation into the crimes committed during the 2008 August War.
In the end of 2015, the GCICC member organizations sent representation forms on behalf of 1000 victims to the Pre-Trial Chamber of ICC. With those application forms, the victims declared their position with regard to the commencement of the investigation.
Soon after the 2008 war, the member organizations, on behalf of the IDPs, appealed to the European Court of Human Rights.
As the victims of the August War have never received any remedies and in parallel to that, the international courts continue examination of their cases, the member organizations continue representation of the August war victims and defend their rights.
To raise awareness of the victim community and general society about the ICC and related issues
The GCICC member organizations inform the victim community and the wider society about the significant issues related with the ICC, including the role and the mandate of the Court, the rights of the victims and their participation in various court proceedings, challenges and news related with the ongoing investigation, conducted and ongoing investigations in other situations by the Court. These activities are carried out through meetings, dissemination of information materials, public statements, preparation and dissemination of the reports among the victim community and interested groups.
In 2018, the GCICC member organizations prepared a brochure “International Criminal Court and 2008 August War Investigation”. The brochure clarifies the activities, role and mandate of the Court. It also describes the types of the crimes which fall under the jurisdiction of the OTP with regard to the Georgia’s situation and what are the scopes of the investigation.
In order to raise awareness of the victim community, the member organizations organized 36 visits in the IDP settlements from March to August of 2018, where they had public and individual meetings with the IDPs and provided them with the information about the investigation in the Georgia’s situation by the ICC and OTP.
To cooperate with the ICC and to advocate the current challenges
In due respect to the interests of the victims, the GCICC member organizations actively cooperate with the ICC as well as with the representatives of its units and assist them to establish communication with the victims. At the same time, the GCICC member organizations through meetings and statements inform the units of the Court about the needs of the victims and advocate the problems including grave socio-economic conditions.
Simultaneously, the GCICC member organizations monitor how effectively the Court and its units work in the context of Georgia and if they identify any problems, the members deliver relevant information and recommendations to address the observed challenges.
The GCICC member organizations also observe the investigation commenced by the OTP over the 2008 August War. The organizations raise the issues related with the ongoing investigations during various meetings or in statements to better protect the rights of the victims in front of the responsible bodies and to promote the effective investigation.
As a result of active advocacy of the GCICC member organizations, in the end of 2017, the field office of the ICC was opened in Georgia, whose main purpose is to raise awareness and disseminate information about the work of the Court. The GCICC member organizations actively cooperate with the field office, through participating their regular meetings and exchange of information about the victims.
