Demystifying the I.C.J. Overview

A pool of Belizean journalists is in The Hague, Netherlands for one week. The group representing seven media houses and the Government Press Office includes our Marleni Cuellar. They arrived in that city on Sunday with the sole purpose to learn more about the International Court of Justice. The journalists have engaged in a number of informative meetings to deepen their understanding of the international court and will be interviewing some experts in the latter part of their visit. Here’s Marleni’s report on their first day.

Marleni Cuellar

Marleni Cuellar

“This is Hague City Central or as the Dutch call it, “Den Haag Centraal.”  The Hague is by no means as popular as its neighbor, Amsterdam, but this, the third largest city in Netherlands, holds local and global significance. Locally, it holds the seat of the Dutch government, it’s where the monarchy resides and it’s also a popular place for business. Globally though, it is known as the “International City for Peace and Justice” as it’s the home of the United Nation’s top court the International Court of Justice. And that’s why we’re here; as a part of a programme sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Belize. Public Affairs Officer, Natella Svistunova, tells more about the project.”

Natella Svistunova

Natella Svistunova, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy Belize

“The U.S. Embassy designed and the U.S. State Department funded for this innovative program for media professionals to come to The Hague where the I.C.J. is to learn about the court and the process.  To educate themselves learning from the subject matter experts and in turn to educate Belizean people so that they vote on facts not on fear. In fact the program is called from fear to facts demystifying the I.C.J.  In the next five to six days that we are here we have busy and very packed schedule. Of course the highlight is the visit to the Peace Palace where the I.C.J. is. Surrounding that event we have a bulk of meetings with diplomatic professionals with attorneys with law clerks with those who have firsthand knowledge of the court. Those who have worked with the court, those who interacted with the judges and those who’ve had day to day dealings with the I.C.J. There are so many unanswered questions in Belize and yes there is an education campaign going right now than by sending or bringing – in this case now-we are already in the Hague – Belizean journalists to the Hague where the I.C.J. is explaining what is the I.C.J. going to the I.C.J. itself, meeting people who work there and first hand everyday interaction with the court.   Belizean media, varies news channels, various outlets a wonderful cohort of professionals are here in the Hague to learn from subject matter experts so that they can learn firsthand so that they can relay that information and get to the facts. There are a lot of questions in Belize now about the referendum about the I.C.J.  All sorts of questions; probably more questions than answers and our programmes designed to fill those gaps.”

Marleni Cuellar

“Over the course of this week we will be providing daily updates. Reporting for News Five from The Hague, I am Marleni Cuellar.”

The project will take the media pool to Guatemala next month to get the pulse of the people in that country on the territorial dispute eight months after their referendum.