September 29, 2016 | New York/ The Hague/ Buenos Aires

On 27 September 2016, the Minister of Justice and Human Rights of Argentina, Germán Garavano, held a meeting with the President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Mrs. Silvia Fernández and acting president of Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA), Dip. Margarita Stolbizer, aimed at discussing and specifying actions to support investigations of transnational crimes.

The meeting took place at the seat of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and was further attended by the Under Secretary of Access to Justice, Maria Fernanda Rodriguez, Under Secretary of Criminal Policy, Martin Casares, the head of the Coordination Unit for International Affairs of the Ministry, Eugenio Curia, and former Member of Parliament of Argentina, Fernando Iglesias.

The discussion focused in particular on the possibility of signing voluntary agreements on cooperation with the ICC, as well as on the ratification of the Kampala Amendments to the Rome Statute.

During the meeting, Mr. Garavano also referred to the bill on trials in absentia which would enable to conduct judicial proceedings in the absence of the defendant. Under current judicial system in Argentina, trials without the accused being present are not permitted.

The meeting concluded with an agenda proposal on the envisaged activities relating to the ICC. The first scheduled event takes place in December 2016 in the form of a seminar focused on issues related to the mandate of the Court.