Press Contact:
J. Coco Chang

718.783.2000 ext. 316

jcocochang@witness.org

BUKENI WARUZI OF WITNESS TO ATTEND VERDICT OF FORMER REBEL LEADER THOMAS LUBANGA AT THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT ON MARCH 14

Web Interview Available After Delivery of Verdict

NEW YORK–March 12, 2012– Long-time human rights advocate Bukeni Waruzi will be attending the verdict of former rebel leader Thomas Lubanga Dyilo at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday, March 14 at 10 a.m.

The verdict will come eight years after Congolese political leader was taken into ICC custody and more than three years since the start of his trial.

For more than 14 years, Bukeni has fought for the rights and rehabilitation of child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, of which there were an estimated 30,000 children who were awaiting to be demobilized from the armed forces at the end of 2003. Today, there is still an estimated 7,000 child soldiers who remain in government forces and armed groups, most of which are girls.

Several of Bukeni’s advocacy films have been used as evidence against Lubanga, who is charged with committing three war crimes between July 2002 and December 2003. Bukeni’s films are available here: http://www.witness.org/campaigns/all-campaigns/duty-protect-child-soldiers-drc

The specific counts against Lubanga are: conscripting children under the age of 15 years into armed groups; enlisting children into armed groups; and using children to participate actively in armed conflict. His trial is the only one conducted to date by the ICC that is solely related to the use of child soldiers.

After the verdict, journalists will be able to connect with Bukeni at the Hague through a web interview hosted by Google+ hangout. Request for participation is needed, please email jcoco@witness.org.

Details for the web interview are below:

Conversation with Bukeni Waruzi
Wednesday, March 14
11 to 11.30 a.m. EDT

Steps to connect (must have a Gmail account):

1. Sign into Google+ at: https://plus.google.com
2. Find Bukeni T. Waruzi google+ profile at: https://plus.google.com/u/0/111582769884719040213/posts
3. Add Bukeni T. Waruzi to one of your circles.
4. Select home  to return to your stream
5. Join Bukeni T. Waruzi in Google Hangout Add Bukeni T. Waruzi to one of your circles
   

In the event web connection is not working properly, we will immediately switch to a telephone conference line. Details for alternative connection are below:

1. Conference Dial-In # (712) 775-7100
2. Access Code: 433545
3. When prompted, enter the above access code, followed by the # key.

If problems dialing, please call +1 (202) 670-8760.