Prof. Hannah Garry argues for victims’ rights in international court hearing in The Hague

Garry makes amicus curiae submission at hearing before Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC).   

By Leslie Ridgeway

 On Dec. 6, Prof. Hannah Garry traveled to The Hague, Netherlands, to make amicus curiae submissions together with former UN Special Rapporteurs before the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which held a hearing to receive arguments in the appeals of the prosecution and victims of alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.

Prof. Hannah Garry making her submission to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

The hearing follows the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber’s rejection in April of a request to open an investigation into war crimes in that nation, which is a member of the ICC.

“It was an honor and privilege to participate in these important proceedings on behalf of victims who have waited far too long for justice,” said Garry, who directs the International Human Rights Clinic at USC Gould. “It is my hope that the Appeals Chamber does the right thing and corrects the Pre-Trial Chamber’s denial of an investigation which has only increased the injury done to victims of atrocity crimes in Afghanistan.”