ICC Appeals Chamber hears appeal on the conflict in Afghanistan

4th December 2019

Rodney Dixon QC is appearing on behalf of the Government of Afghanistan with Aidan Ellis and Anne Coulon in an appeal hearing this week at the ICC in The Hague.

It concerns the decision of the Court to refuse to open an investigation in respect of international crimes committed by Afghan, US and Taliban forces during the conflict on the grounds that there are substantial reasons to believe that it would not be in the interests of justice to open such an investigation, particularly in light of the current obstacles to conducting effective investigations in Afghanistan. The Government of Afghanistan has filed written submissions on the nature and extent of its national investigations and proceedings and the points on appeal, and is presenting oral submissions before the Appeals Chamber this week.