International Criminal Court and Inter-American Court of Human Rights Sign Cooperation Agreement (February 16, 2016) [1]
On February 16, 2016, the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights signed a memorandum of understanding [3] to strengthen the cooperation between the institutions. According to the press release [4], the memorandum sets out the terms of the cooperation, focusing on “assistance by exchanging knowledge, experience and expertise inherent to the conduct of their respective mandates, subject to observance of their respective applicable legal regimes.” The two courts will “maintain contact with each other, including through the exchange of visits, the cooperation in the temporary mobility of personnel, the holding of meetings on matters of common interest, and the establishment of appropriate liaison arrangements as may be necessary to facilitate their effective cooperation.” ICC President Judge Fernández de Gurmendi stated, “[h]uman rights courts, international criminal tribunals and national tribunals are complementary components of a global justice system. Together we make up an interdependent system in which judicial institutions complement and reinforce each other in promoting human rights and the rule of law.” She also pointed to the common challenges international tribunals face, including complementarity, legitimacy and efficiency, and noted the agreement could help find solutions, especially considering the long-standing support for the ICC in Latin America and the Caribbean.