Press Release: 3 November 2006

ICC - Practical Information for the Media on the Confirmation of Charges Hearing

ICC-CPI-20061103-172

Press Release


Practical Information for the Media on the Confirmation of Charges Hearing

ICC-CPI-20061103-172

Situation: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Case: Prosecutor v. Mr Thomas Lubanga Dyilo

The Confirmation of Charges Hearing in the case of The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo is scheduled to start at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, The Netherlands, on Thursday, 9 November 2006, at 9.30 a.m. The confirmation hearing’s sessions are expected to last until 28 November.

For a detailed provisional schedule of the hearings visit, please Click here 

The confirmation hearing is a public hearing following which Pre-Trial Chamber I will decide whether or not to confirm the charges brought by the Prosecutor against Mr Thomas Lubanga Dyilo and commit him to trial. The hearing will be held in the presence of the Prosecutor and the person charged, as well as his counsel. Legal representatives of the victims in this case will also participate in the proceedings.


Press Briefing

The Court will hold a press briefing at the ICC premises on 8 November, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. All participants to the proceedings have been invited.


Media Accreditation

All journalists wishing to cover the hearing and press briefing are requested to submit an official letter of assignment by fax to +31 (0)70 515-8567 and the accreditation form to the following email address: [email protected]

Filming or photography is strictly prohibited inside the Court building. Pending a decision by Pre-Trial Chamber I, photographers may be allowed to take pictures at the beginning of the hearing. In such case, they will also require accreditation.

The accreditation application period starts on Thursday, 2 November and closes on Tuesday, 7 November 2006 at 4 p.m.

Journalists with permanent accreditation with the ICC do not have to submit the accreditation form nor the letter, but are kindly requested to confirm via email his or her attendance to the public hearing.

The results of the accreditation procedure will be posted on the ICC web site on Tuesday, 7 November 2006. To receive the press badge, journalists must present a passport or valid ID with a photo.


Videostream


Courtroom proceedings can be followed on the ICC website: www.icc-cpi.int.
Please note that there will be a 30-minute delay in transmission.


The Media Centre


From 9 November until the last day of the confirmation hearing, the Court’s media centre will open for journalists from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

The area can seat up to 64 people and includes: plasma TV screens; a Wi-Fi internet service; cards (plug + play) for those without Wi-Fi installation in their PC or laptop; 6 computers with internet access; 7 telephones for internal calls only, are free of charge. For external use, journalists are advised to purchase beforehand 0800 pre-paid phone cards available at newsagents and train stations. Please note that phone cards cannot be obtained in the vicinity of, or at the ICC.


ICC Audio-Visual Materials


Live audio and video feeds from the courtroom, including language channels, with a delay of 30-minutes are available from each table in the hot-desk area.

NOS Eurovision will provide a video link of some session excerpts of the hearing via satellite to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Europe North and Latin America. Information on this matter will be conveyed as received from Eurovision. 


Parking Facilities

Parking facilities at Regulusweg and Wegastraat car parks are available for media representatives.
Note: Journalists attending the confirmation hearing are kindly invited to use the public entrance located at Regulusweg.


Forfurther information, please contact Ms Sonia Robla on Tel. +31 (0)70 515 8089