ASP18 Side Event: Colombia: the role of the ICC in the context of an unfinished transition

18TH SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF STATES PARTIES TO THE ROME STATUTE

Day 3 (4 December 2019)

Name of the Event: Colombia: the role of the ICC in the context of an unfinished transition (Side Event co-hosted by Avocats Sans Frontieres – Canada, the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC), Comisión Colombiana de Juristas, Colectivo de Abogados Jose Alvear Restrepo, Sisma Mujer, Colombia Diversa, Corporacion Humanas).

Overview by: Leonore ten Hulsen, Junior Research Associate PILPG-NL

Main Highlights:

The transition to justice in Colombia is not yet completed. The panelists underlined the important role of the ICC in this transition. They asked the ICC to continue with its preliminary examination, including determining whether proceedings carried out in Colombia are genuine, as well as to continue with the dialogue with different national authorities. The ICC has functioned as a shield to protect some of the institutions created as part of the peace agreement that are now under attack by several stakeholders at the national level. The involvement of the ICC is an aid in striving to justice for victims and the fight against impunity of responsible actors in Colombia.

Summary of the Event:

This event in Spanish focused on transnational justice in Colombia, both through local and international means.

The first speaker talked about delayed justice for victims of crimes committed 15 years ago. He noted that the true transition to justice in Colombia is not yet completed. There has been continued political violence in Colombia, and certain regions endure the continuation of the internal armed conflict. These actors continue to commit violent crimes including attacking social leaders. In the last 3 years, the situation has worsened. Last year, 123 cases of violence against human right defenders were documented by the UN. The first speaker noted that each day a human rights defender is killed in Colombia and that these extrajudicial executions are very worrisome. Secondly, the speaker noted there has been an increase in sexual violence. There are 127 cases of sexual violence recorded in Colombia this year. There is presently a lot of impunity. The speaker argued that there is some progress towards justice, but it is small if one looks at the conflict at large. Moreover, there are state actors that were perpetrators who are still commanding armed forces, which makes it difficult to bring them to court. A review of the current judicial mechanisms is necessary, the speaker concluded. The most important crimes are committed against human rights defenders. Moreover, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace is still recent. Therefore, it was noted that the ICC should continue its assessment on whether the proceedings are genuine and make sure that the alleged crimes committed after the peace agreement are also investigated and prosecuted.

The second speaker continued to note that there is a lot of impunity in the Colombian armed conflict which the ICC and the international community could address. Especially women, LGBTQ and indigenous communities are vulnerable. In a large number of cases concerning LGBTQ victims, perpetrators do not face punishment. The seriousness and lack of resources should be taken into account by the ICC. The perpetrators carry a responsibility over their actions that should not be forgotten. The speaker underlined that a preliminary examination is very important as justice should be strived for.

The third speaker referred to the fact that a lot of the violence against women in Colombia is linked to the armed conflict. Civilians are experiencing sexual violence committed by armed groups. The conflict is about the control of regions and there is a series of human rights violations as a result of this conflict. The link between sexual violence and armed violence has already been seen in previous cases at the ICC. However, the international standards as well as the ICC’s jurisprudence on this issue have not been implemented at the national level. This has resulted in the exclusion and inadequate protection of victims of sexual violence. Positive complementarity is essential for the adoption and implementation of these standards in the national legal framework, the third speaker highlighted.

The fourth speaker stated that there has been an incomplete transition of justice so far. Most victims never saw justice and a large group of the victims is part of the LBGTQ community. The fifth speaker continued by speaking of the fact that an armed conflict has been ongoing in Colombia for many years and that the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor started its preliminary investigations in 2004. The speaker noted that looking at the crimes committed since that time, there are still situations of absolute impunity. There should be complementarity if the ICC were to assist Colombia in its efforts towards justice. It is still too early to know the results of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace. It was stated that the preliminary examination should continue and should include the alleged crimes committed by high-ranking officials and third parties that have not been recognized as perpetrators.

Impunity means that there has been a preliminary examination, but the perpetrators still need to be prosecuted. A complete transition to justice requires true results that proof success with court outcomes. What has been achieved in the past 15 years against impunity?

The audience posed a question on the role of corruption in relation to the crimes committed in Colombia. The speakers answered that this is one of the aspects of the bigger picture that needs to be taken into account when striving for transitional justice. Moreover, (international) law enforcement collaborations are important to address a macro level of criminality. In any proceedings of transnational justice, there must be accountability.

ASP18 Informal Consultations on the Omnibus Resolution

18th Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute

Day 3 & 4 (4 & 5 December 2019)

Name of the Event: Informal Consultations on the Omnibus Resolution

Overview by: Signe Wolf Børm, Francisca de Castro, Sindija Beta, Junior Research Associates, and Hester Dek, Intern PILPG-NL

Main highlights:

• After States Parties remained to disagree on Brazil’s proposal for equitable geographical representation of the Bureau during the first meeting, during the second meeting Brazil’s proposal for OP102 bis (now paragraph 101) was approved subject to the outcome of the assessment being included in the annual report of the Bureau.

• The two meetings saw discussion on the duration of the ASP. Germany’s proposal for OP103 bis (now paragraph 103) regarding the length of the ASP was approved as a separate paragraph from OP103 (now paragraph 102).

Summary of the Informal Consultations:

On 4 and 5 December (days 3 and 4 of the 18th Session of the ASP) States Parties convened to discuss the draft Omnibus Resolution (entitled “Strengthening the International Criminal Court and the Assembly of States Parties”).

On 4 December, two main issues were raised: equitable geographical representation and the duration of the ASP. Brazil raised the issue of equitable geographical representation and was supported by several States Parties, including Slovakia, Argentina, Chile, Dominican Republic, and Mexico. Argentina stated that while the number of States Parties to the Rome Statute has increased over the past years, this has not been translated to the representation in the bureau. Mexico’s representative, in relation to their statement of support, noted that “saying the time is not right is wrong, we have been discussing the matter for 3 years now.”  Mexico further noted that while it might not be the main issue of this ASP, it should nevertheless be discussed.  

Slovenia and Bulgaria voiced their opposition to the proposal. In doing so, they provided multiple reasons related to the practical effects of the proposal. Bulgaria noted that the current situation is reflecting a good balance, and there are currently more important matters on the agenda.

On the matter of the duration of the ASP, Germany proposed a decrease from two weeks to one week. Its main argument was cost-related. Belgium and Liechtenstein opposed this proposal, believing that it is inappropriate to shorten the sessions, and furthermore noting that the discussion should be paused until the report by the bureau has been released. Australia, Finland, Slovenia, Sweden, Italy, France, Japan indicated their support for Germany’s proposal.

On 5 December, consultations on the omnibus resolution continued with three main points of discussion – the workload of the Bureau, equitable geographical representation of the Bureau as proposed by Brazil, and the length of ASP’s as raised by Germany.

Liechtenstein brought forward the first issue. Liechtenstein worried that “encouraging” the Bureau to engage with States Parties and other relevant actors to support the Court’s efforts with respect to sexual and gender-based crimes would overburden the Bureau. Canada and Finland assured Liechtenstein that the Bureau has approved the paragraph and it will not affect the Burea’s workload extensively. Liechtenstein consequently withdrew its objection. 

The second issue concerned Brazil’s proposal for equitable geographical representation in the Bureau. Slovenia proposed that the paragraph does not include the necessity for the Bureau to submit a report to the 19th ASP. Poland and Bulgaria seconded Slovenia’s proposal. Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Japan, Guatemala, Venezuela, Mexico, and Panama dismissed Slovenia’s objections and wished to include the paragraph as it was proposed by Brazil. After discussions among the States Parties, Slovakia proposed that instead of requesting a separate report on the matter, the Bureau includes this question in their annual report. States Parties accepted Slovakia’s amendment. 

The third question regarded the proposal to have a 6 day ASP unless judicial or prosecutorial elections are held during that year. States Parties agreed that the proposal should be included in a separate paragraph and not combined with paragraph 103 (now paragraph 102). The wording of the paragraph was subsequently accepted. 

All other paragraphs were approved with little or no discussion. The adopted Omnibus Resolution will be published on the ASP’s website.

ASP18 Side Event: In the Aftermath of ISIL: Community Hearings for Gender-Based Violence Survivors and their Communities in Iraq

18TH SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF STATES PARTIES TO THE ROME STATUTE

Day 5 (6 December 2019)

Name of the Event: In the Aftermath of ISIL: Community Hearings for Gender-Based Violence Survivors and their Communities in Iraq (Side Event co-hosted by Canada and MADRE)

Overview by: Signe Wolf Børm, Junior Research Associate PILPG-NL

 Main Highlights:

• Community hearings are necessary to reintegrate victims of crimes committed by Daesh into their communities, as well as to increase awareness and to prevent similar events from occurring in the future.

• The Iraqi people are dissatisfied with the leaders of ISIS being prosecuted for their membership of the organisation, rather than for the specific crimes against the people.

Summary of the Event: 

Lisa Davis opened this side event on community hearings for survivors of gender-based violence in Iraq by underlining the necessity to achieve justice for the victims of Daesh. She stated that women need to be recognized and have their stories heard. Having a public hearing will assist in building support for criminal trials in the future, and encourages the reintegration of the victims of gender-based crimes and sexual assault. Lastly, Ms. Davis stated that accountability does not need to start in the Hague and that community hearings can promote stability and reintegration.

Renja Alaaldin, Iraqi advocate for MADRE, explained that MADRE started its project on justice and accountability through community hearings, because it believed people want truth and reconciliation, and because community hearings can be helpful in raising awareness, increasing public recognition, and to promote accountability.

Lisa Davis, associate professor of law at the University of New York; Co-Director of the Human Rights & Gender Justice Clinic; and senior legal advisor for MADRE, explored how community hearings can bring about peace, accountability, and reconciliation. She stated that the current situation in Iraq is characterized by a great civil dissatisfaction relating to accountability, jobs, and the killings of protesters. She noted that the people of Iraq want accountability for the crimes committed by ISIS. The Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq (OWFI) has documented hundreds of sexual and gender-based crimes and handed over documentation to the ICC and the Office of the Prosecutor. The documentation has been stored by evidence collecting bodies such as the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Daesh/ISIL (UNITAD) and the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Syria (IIIM). Ms. Davis highlighted the importance of accountability, justice, and for victims and survivors to have a chance to tell their stories. For the situation as it is, community hearings provide for reconciliation, the start of a healing process, and an opportunity to understand the greater picture of the conflict. Ms. Davis explained that these proceedings allow taking account of the events that have taken place within the country, allow academic and policymakers to consider the root causes of the conflict, which laws are lacking, as well as, to consider what the community needs to satisfy the needs of the individuals displaced due to the conflict.

Ms. Davis went on to state that there is a problem with the reintegration of women living under ISIS. This is because the association with ISIS makes reintegration into their communities almost impossible. A community hearing, however, could allow communities to understand the issues and allow for reintegration, as history in this context has taught us that tribunals have worked, and therefore also can work in Iraq. Ms. Davis lastly urged to act now, because of the risk of the cycle of violence repeating itself. 

Yanar Mohammed, president of the organization Women's Freedom spoke next. Ms. Mohammed discussed the situation of women enslaved by ISIS, explaining that these women were left without homes and family because they are shamed by their communities as a result of their forced marriages, and the children they gave birth to as a result of rape within the forced marriages. She stated that women should not have to live with this shame, they should be reintegrated into their communities, and in doing so, know that the future of their children is also secured. Ms. Mohammed noted that the international community should put a system in place and that this goal could only be ensured if the community is willing to recognize, respect, and support the women, as the women find themselves in a situation in which they are losing their wellbeing and their health altogether. A community hearing could be capable of ensuring survivors of these crimes to not have to hide anymore because they will be recognized, and it will turn them into a survivor in the eye of the community rather than a co-perpetrator. Such a hearing should furthermore lead to women affected receiving reparations to ensure that they can provide for their children and their future. A community hearing is moreover a step toward preventing the same acts happening again in the future - but this requires recognition first.

Agnes Callamard, UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions spoke last and in an eloquent manner told the audience about the observation she had made on the matter. Ms. Callamard had visited Iraq right after the end of the war in 2017, when she realized that little attention was given to justice and reparations but even less attention was given to the victims, who will rarely speak in a trial. It was furthermore pointed out that the ongoing trials against the leaders of ISIS are based on their membership of the organization (which if they are convicted will lead to a death sentence), but not on the specific atrocities committed against civilians and particularly women.

Ms. Callamard noted that there about 170 mass graves in Iraq related to the recent war crimes. There are many more graves however and there are stories that come with all of them, but so do the Daesh soldier currently detained in the Iraqi prisons. The stories being told now, Ms. Callamard said do not to give the closure necessary. The justice necessary for the people in Iraq, as well as Syria, has not been prioritized by their governments nor the international community, she noted. Ms. Callamard clarified that it was not only the Yazidi women, but similar situations applied to Shia, Suni, and Christian women, who have not come forward to tell their stories yet because they have not been given the space to do so. These women should be enabled to tell their stories and in the current climate, civil society will be the main actors towards promoting justice. Ms. Callamard stated in regard to community hearings that they are not capable of replacing formal justice, but that these are necessary to start breaking the current system and the lack of care for justice. She concluded that civil society will be a key factor in doing so. She further mentioned that the Iraqi people are not satisfied with the current form of justice being done, as it was expressed that, killing ISIS leaders without trial is not good enough. Ms. Callamard explained that people recognize that community hearings will allow the truth to be spoken, which in turn will allow communities to better understand and reintegrate victims. To conclude Ms. Callamard noted that “this has been the decade of impunity. Embarking on a new decade next year, I am asking everyone to make the next decade the one of accountability.”

ASP18 Side Event: The Promise of Complementarity in Uganda: Challenges and Opportunities in Delivering Justice to Victims

18TH SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF STATES PARTIES TO THE ROME STATUTE

Day 2 (3 December 2019)

Name of the Event: The Promise of Complementarity in Uganda: Challenges and Opportunities in Delivering Justice to Victims (Side Event co-hosted by Uganda, the United Kingdom, and Justice Rapid Response (JRR))

Overview by: Signe Wolf Børm, Junior Research Associate PILPG-NL

Main Highlights:

• This side event focused on complementarity in Uganda. 

• The International Crimes Division (ICD) of the High Court of Uganda was set up in 2008 to deal with civil wars and other national conflicts. The High Court tried alleged perpetrators of crimes against humanity. The High Court of Uganda faces challenges, however, such as lack of capacity to deal with sensitive evidence and its admissibility in court. 

• The main challenge faced in Uganda in its quest to deliver justice is communication with the victims of the conflict. Ms. Solomy Awiidi highlighted that information concerning ongoing cases often is limited. 

Summary of the Event:

Judge Joanna Korner QC, former Senior Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), initiated the meeting by reiterating the importance of the complementarity principle: the ICC is a court of last resort and should therefore only be called upon when a national court is either unable or unwilling to act. She clarified that the ICC does not offer a perfect roadmap on how to deal with specific conflicts, this was rather said to require a local response. Judge Korner went on to state that, from every perspective but in particular from that of the victim, it is preferable if prosecution occurs in the country where crimes are committed. She exemplified this by referring to her experience from the ICTY, stating that difficulties arose when a Yugoslavian witness had to be transported to the Hague to give evidence.

Judge Korner then focused on Uganda, acknowledging that Uganda has taken responsibility, launched investigations, and had acquired the capacity building necessary, particularly concerning sexual and gender-based violence. She highlighted that based on her experience from the ICTY, investigations into war crimes are extremely complex and challenging for the investigators and the court system in any country. She acknowledged that such processes are even more demanding in a country that is still recovering or suffering. Judge Korner, therefore, concluded that Uganda, having taken this task upon itself, has stepped up and has hopefully set an example of how other states can do the same.

Justice Henry Adonyo, head of the International Crimes Division of the High Court of Uganda, then outlined the structure of the International Crimes Division (ICD), a special division of the High Court of Uganda. The ICD was set up in 2008 to deal with civil wars and other national conflicts, and the court tried alleged perpetrators of crimes against humanity. Justice Henry Adonyo in his speech particularly focused on the trials of individuals form the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). It was noted that witness participation is taking place at the High Court of Uganda but that the matter is difficult as Uganda has no unit for the protection of witnesses and victims. Another issue highlighted concerned the lack of capacities to deal with sensitive evidence and its admissibility in court. Uganda inherited its legal system from the United Kingdom and is therefore of an adversarial nature. This further contributes to the difficulties as victims are denied participation in a trial, and a solution to this matter has yet to be provided.

Hereafter, Ms. Florence Owinji Akello, Assistant Director of public prosecutions in Uganda, went on to discuss the challenge of the “amnesty law”. This act provides amnesty to certain people, for instance to some of the LRA leaders. An issue that has arisen is how the public will be explained why not all of the LRA leaders were given amnesty. A further issue highlighted by Ms. Akello was how the prosecution will determine who will serve as witnesses, and how to allow them to reproduce their story without being suppressed.

Ms. Solomy Awiidi, a transnational justice lawyer working for the Refugee project, highlighted some of the needs of victims and witnesses. Ms. Awiidi provided expert knowledge on communication with victims and victim communities. One of the key issues highlighted was that information concerning ongoing cases often is limited. Ms. Awiidi and her co-workers, however, have experienced that giving victims and victim communities information on a case is received positively. Providing victims with information helps them to manage expectations and affirms that there is a genuine interest in prosecuting. It was further mentioned that victims can be provided with educational information into how a trial works, why and how the perpetrator can afford legal protection, and why witness statements are important for trial. Ms. Awiidi underlined the importance of educating victims on how the procedure of testifying in court works and how contributions can be made. Another issue mentioned concerned the geographical representation of areas affected within one trial. It was described that a large area affected by crimes was covered in the trial and this led to the question of how the prosecutor can convince that voices of each part of the country will be heard and all concerns will be addressed. A final issue mentioned by Ms. Awiidi was the court’s lack of jurisdiction to prosecute crimes that were committed before 2010.

Lastly, Ms. Serena Gates, a UK barrister and Justice Rapid Response (JRR) expert, highlighted the necessity to look at the challenges of the case holistically. She pointed out that restrictions on the safety of both prosecutors and witnesses constitute a real issue and that the resources to deal with these issues are lacking. On a more practical level, it was stated that the systems used for filing and documenting the process is based on a paper system. 

It was concluded that it is necessary for lawyers to be able to adapt to the situations in which they find themselves to achieve the best results and to obtain the evidence necessary for trial. Sexual and gender-based violence, for instance, is stigmatized and when it is talked about, it is often done through the use of colloquial phrases which allows a victim to only indirectly state that the occurrence took place. A solution to this particular issue is the use of role-play exercises and mock trials. This can make lawyers more comfortable with having these conversations, which in turn will make it more natural for the victims to talk about what happened to them.

ASP18 Side Event: Turning Challenges into Opportunities: Rethinking the UN and Civil Society Cooperation towards accountability in Syria and Myanmar

18TH SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF STATES PARTIES TO THE ROME STATUTE

Day 5 (6 December 2019)

Name of the Event: Turning Challenges into Opportunities: Rethinking the UN and Civil Society Cooperation towards accountability in Syria and Myanmar (Side Event co-hosted by the Netherlands and Switzerland)

Overview by: Francisca De Castro, Junior Research Associate PILPG-NL

Summary of the Event:

This panel discussion on UN and Civil Society cooperation towards accountability in Syria and Myanmar was moderated by Nynke Staal, legal officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. Ms. Staal first noted that the name of the event reflects the situation perfectly, since a couple of years ago there was just hope that the situation in Syria would be referred to the ICC, and as the call is still there, in the meantime, the international community established accountability mechanisms like the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) for Syria. 

Ms. Staal touched upon several challenges the IIIM faces. During expert meetings, it became evident that there was a clear need for building trust between the international and Syrian community as after all these years civil society had lost trust. Communication was needed. The Netherlands and Switzerland organized meetings between Syrian civil society and the IIIM to see which relationships needed to be built. A second challenge of the IIIM was the clarification of its purposes and to manage expectations. This process continues to this day and has resulted in a protocol. Dialogues on specific issues continue, but one of the results the IIIM has taken upon itself is to take a victim centered approach. 

Ms. Catherine Marchi-Uhel, head of the IIIM, talked about the necessity of the IIIM and the challenges it faces. She stated that professionals in the international community have a certain prejudice that civil society doesn’t speak the same diplomatic and technical language and that they have unreasonable expectations. National organizations sometimes forget that international NGOs are at the forefront of shifting the attention of the international community through information and advocacy. Ms. Marchi-Uhel stated that international civil society organizations and national organizations are not mutually exclusive, they are in clear need of one another. CSOs role was not limited to documenting the atrocities, they play a critical role placing crimes in the relevant contexts. They provide feedback on lessons learned which proved extremely useful to the IIIM. The IIIM’s mandate focuses on filling gaps in targeted investigations and it assists courts and tribunals which prosecute or may prosecute in the future. Ms. Marchi-Uhel reminded participants that the IIIM can only assist prosecutions within jurisdictions that respect due process and human rights. She said that domestic jurisdictions are doing the utmost to make use of all possibilities for justice, including using universal jurisdiction to prosecute higher-ranking officials.

Mr. Refik Hodzic, communications advisor for the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), explained how his job is illustrative of the commitment to building the relationship between civil society and professionals of the international community. He was brought to the mechanism to try to conceptualize the strategy of engagement with civil society. Many lessons are to be learned from the IIIM. Around 80%-90% of efforts are currently made to populate the institution with staff that could competently carry out the mandate. Mr. Hodzic said that the crucial role of civil society plays is evident. It is unfolding in the context which is very challenging on various fronts. However, there are many other external challenges that impact the capacity of the mechanism to build a constructive relation with civil society. Mr. Hodzic mentioned that the IIMM focuses on establishing substantive relationships with people who are most affected by the success of the institution. Those people are also the main source for evidence collection. One of the challenges for the IIMM is the situation in Bangladesh. The possible repatriation of refugees in Bangladesh towards Myanmar means that witnesses might become inaccessible to the mechanism. Mr. Hodzic furthermore said that a problem for the victims is that they have to provide their testimonies continuously, to different organizations, without knowing what is being done with the information. The IIMM is thinking of ways to show results to those testifying so that progress can be followed. Mr. Hodzic mentioned how this can also give victims a space for advocacy for as they have the feeling that their work matters.

Mr. Christian Mahr, director of external operations at the ICC Registry, talked from the viewpoint of the Court. He highlighted the importance of victim participation and cooperation between civil society and the organs of the Court. He said that cooperation does not not only mean getting the victims to talk about their situation, but also bringing the Court outside of The Hague and into the field. He emphasized that during the preliminary examination stage, it is about trying to find partnerships with civil society to find credible information as to open an investigation. He highlighted that the ICC provides retributive and restorative justice (through the TFV) which is why this contact is important not only in the preliminary examination stages but also during and after potential trials. 

The last two panelists to intervene where Mr. Mazen Dawish from the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression and Ms. Razia Sultana, chairperson of the Rohingya Women Welfare society, who spoke about their experiences as both victims and members of civil society groups. Mr. Dawish was rejoiced to see that there is an increasing respect for civil society and acknowledgment of partnership between civil society and international institutions working towards accountability. He noted that the work of the IIIM has helped to create a partnership based on trust and cooperation. From the civil society viewpoint, he mentioned that civil society was at first reluctant to work with the IIIM because they feared that the IIIM would take resources in Syria without truly accomplishing anything. But he was rejoiced that cooperation with the IIIM bore its fruits. He said that the partnership has helped to increase civil society’s knowledge and professionalism, and it has helped the IIIM to better understand the needs of civil society, and thus being able to give more specific help. He noted that civil society remains to face some challenges, like expanding their tools and partnering with the right organizations that have the potential to be useful in achieving justice. Ms. Razia Sultana, talked about the dire conditions of women in refugee camps in Bangladesh, and how they are still being persecuted as women. In fact, reports have shown that there is systematic rape happening to the Rohingya. She said that victims want the criminal justice system to repair the harm that has been done to them, like the restoration of citizenship that was taken from them, and that only through the exchange with organs like the IIMM can they truly tell their story and help the international community understand their needs.