Prof. Kai Ambos and Prof. Su Jiang (Bejing University) initiated a Chinese German Dialogue on Core Concepts in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice. There are numerous topics in both China and Germany which deserve to be explored from a comparative perspective to the benefit of both legal systems.

Contrary to previous Chinese/German initiatives, this project takes a more discursive and communicative approach and employs as a common language English in order to have a more fluid discussion without relying on translations/translators. The dialogical form of talking with each other in lieu of talking about each other has been proven enriching and successful in a different context, namely the Anglo-German dialogue project, see here.

The first workshop of the Chinese-German Dialogue group was held on 17-18 July 2023, in Göttingen, Germany, here is the program and some photos.

Seven topics were selected, with both German and Chinese authors presenting their unique perspectives on each issue. The workshop commenced with the authors briefly summarizing their (draft) papers, followed by comments from assigned commentators. Subsequently, the discussion was opened up to the entire group. The core objective of the workshop was to foster lively discussions and provide constructive feedback on the (draft) papers. It has been agreed to submit the revised (complementary) papers until 15 February 2024 with a view to a further publication.

The coordinators and participants thank the Chinese Konfuzius Institute at the University Göttingen, the Göttingen Association for Criminal Law, Criminal Justice and Criminology as well as the publishers Beck, Duncker & Humblot and Nomos for their generous support.

Editors: Kai Ambos, Alexander Heinze and Philipp Ambach

The Project’s aim is to publish a commentary on the law of evidence at International Criminal Tribunals. A number of eminent legal practitioners and scholars in the field of International Criminal Law give a detailed rule-by-rule analysis of the relevant body of law on evidence at International Criminal Courts and Tribunals. This includes a critical assessment of differing approaches across the institutions as well as jurisprudential trends and developments. It therefore serves as a comprehensive guide for the practitioner and scholar alike for the law on evidence as practiced on the international level.

Notwithstanding the existing research on International Criminal Evidence, the applicants’ proposed project of creating a commentary on International Criminal Evidence is unparalleled. We strike a balance between the growing jurisprudence of International Criminal Tribunals and academic opinions. Due to the strong practitioners’ perspective, we focus on the case law of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and that of other tribunals, thereby moving away from an emphasis on academic opinions. The classification and appraisal of the growing ICC jurisprudence within the commentaries will be a true asset for any International Criminal Law practitioner.

Due to the high relevance of the project, the applicants envision the project to be completed and the commentary to be published no later than in course of the year 2019.

The renowned publisher C.H. Beck has agreed to publish the book in its international program (Beck international with Hart, UK) and will already announce its publication during Frankfurt Book Fair 11-15 October 2017.

List of Authors

Author	Organisation/Institution
Ambach, Philipp	Chief of the Victims Participation and Reparations Section, Registry, International Criminal Court
Ambos, Kai	Chair for Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Comparative Law and International Criminal Law, Head Department of Foreign and International Criminal Law, Institute for Criminal Law and Justice, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Judge Kosovo Specialist Chambers
Black, Colin
Boas, Gideon	Barrister-at-Law and Professor at La Trobe University, Melbourne
Brady, Helen	Senior Appeals Counsel, Office of the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court, Office of the Prosecutor, formerly International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
Carlson, Matt	Senior Legal Officer, Chambers, United Nations Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals, Appeals Chamber, formerly International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
Carnero Rojo, Enrique	Legal Officer, Office of Public Counsel for Victims, Registry, International Criminal Court
Cengic, Amir	Legal Officer, Chambers, United Nations Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals, formerly International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
Chaitidou, Eleni	Legal Officer, International Criminal Court
Combs, Nancy	Ernest W. Goodrich Professor of Law, Kelly Professor of Teaching Excellence, and Director, Human Security Law Center, William & Mary Law School
David, Elena-Alexandra	Associate Legal Officer, Victims Participation and Reparations Section, Registry, International Criminal Court
Gaynor, Fergal	Consultant; former Common Legal representative of Victims, International Criminal Court
Gibson, Kate	Defence Counsel, International Criminal Court, United Nations Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals
Gillett, Matthew	Trial Counsel, International Criminal Court, Office of the Prosecutor
Gosnell, Chris	Defence Counsel, International Criminal Court, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
Goy, Barbara	Senior Appeals Counsel, Office of the Prosecutor, United Nations Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals, Office of the Prosecutor
Halling, Matt	Associate Legal Officer, Judiciary, International Criminal Court
Heffernan, Liz	Associate Professor of Law, Trinity College Dublin
Heinsch, Robert	Professor of International Law, University of Leiden
Heinze, Alexander	Assistant Professor, Department of Foreign and International Criminal Law, Institute for Criminal Law and Justice, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
Hinek, Silva	Legal Officer, Chambers, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
Hohler, Beti	International Criminal Court, Office of the Prosecutor
Jacobs, Dov	Assistant Professor, Leiden University
Jasini, Rudina	Former Attorney International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia / ECCC; ESRC GCRF Fellow at the Faculty of Law, University of Oxford
Karnavas, Michael	International Criminal Court, Defence
Khan, Karim A.A.	International Criminal Court, Defence
Körner, Thomas	Associate Legal Officer, Judiciary, International Criminal Court
Küfner, Stefanie	Legal Officer, Chambers, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, Trial Chamber
Lawson, Clare	Legal Officer, Kosovo Specialist Chambers
Leff, Jesse	Legal Officer, Chambers, United Nations Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals
Little, Elizabeth	Special Assistant to the Registrar, Registry, ICC (former legal officer in the Trial and Appeals Chamber of the ICC for 8 years)
McDermott, Yvonne	Associate Professor of Law, Swansea University
Menon, Aditya	Appeals Counsel at the Office of the Prosecutor at the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals
Menon, Parvathi	Research Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Procedural Law
Min, Yongjune	Legal Officer in Chambers of the Mechanism of the International Criminal Tribunals
Peykova, Mariya	Judicial Assistant, Court of Appeal of England and Wales
Raynor, Keith	Judge, Kosovo Specialist Chambers
Re, David	Judge, Special Tribunal for Lebanon
Reid, Bob	International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, Office of the Prosecutor
Sachithanandan, Pubudu	Trial Counsel, Office of the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court
Schmidt, Kelly	Legal Officer, Chambers, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
Tochilovsky, Vladimir	Formlerly International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, Office of the Prosecutor, Investigation Team Leader and Trial Attorney
Viktorova, Emiliya	Legal Officer, Chambers, United Nations Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals
Woolaver, Hannah	Senior Lecturer in Public International Law, University of Cape Town

Topical list of major issues relating to evidence and assigned author

I. Evidence: Context and Introduction

• Conceptual foundations (Kai Ambos)
• Burden / standard of proof (Dov Jacobs)
• Overview of modes and forms of evidence in various procedural stages (Philipp Ambach)

II. Different types of evidence

• General rules (Yongjune Min)
• Witness statement; Viva voce vs written statement (Pubudu Sachithanandan)
• Hearsay evidence (Jesse Leff)
• Expert evidence [excl. disclosure-related issues; see infra] (Elizabeth Little)
• Statement and testimony of the accused (Michael Karnavas)
• Documentary evidence (Fergal Gaynor)
• Indirect material
• Bar table motion
• Forensic evidence (David Re)
• Alibi evidence (Parvathi Menon)
• Circumstantial evidence (Keith Raynor)
• Amicus Curiae (Hannah Woolaver)
• Evidence by victims and victim representatives [alternatively: “Views and concerns of victims”] (Enrique Carnero Rojo)
• Judicial notice and agreed facts (Silva Hinek)

III. Assessment of evidence (editing Alexander Heinze)

• General criteria / different assessment of different types of evidence / applicable standard (Vladimir Tochilovsky)
• Authenticity and reliability (Helen Brady)
• Relevance and probative value (Rudina Jasini)
• Inkl. translation
• Weight against prejudicial effect
• Corroboration of different types of evidence (Matt Carlson)

IV. Collection of Evidence

• The Role of the Prosecutor (Bob Reid)
• Fugitives Component
• Continuation of Investigation
• Archiving of evidence
• The Role of the Chambers (incl. site visits) (Stefanie Kuefner / Kelly Schmidt)
• Role of the Defence Lawyer (Kate Gibson)
• Various forms of legal assistance/cooperation between States and International Criminal Courts (Pascal Turlan)
• Intermediaries (Colin Black)

V. Disclosure of evidence

• Prosecution Disclosure (Alexander Heinze)
• General Remarks
• Definition of ‘disclosure’ in the material
• Disclosure and Human Rights
• Exculpatory Evidence
• Documents and Tangible Objects
• Witness Disclosure and limitations
• Notice (esp. ad hoc Tribunals) Art. 76(1)(a)/ DCC, pre-trial briefs in general
• Translation of Disclosed Material
• The Role of the Chamber and the Registry (Eleni Chaitidou)
• Disclosure Relating to an arrest warrant
• Disclosure prior and after the Confirmation Hearing
• Defence and victim disclosure (Chris Gosnell)
• Disclosure by the defence
• Disclosure to and from victim representative
• Notice
• Forms to and restrictions of disclosure and the consequences of non-disclosure (Matt Halling)
• Disclosure versus confidentiality obligations
• Required consent of third party
• Failure to meet disclosure obligations [and remedies]
• Including Delayed disclosure / withholding evidence
• Intermediaries
• National security interests (Art. 72)
• Redactions

VI. Admissibility of evidence

• Admission of evidence and reasons for inadmissibility of evidence (Beti Hohler)
• Exclusion of evidence (Yvonne McDermott)
• Means of obtaining evidence incl. unlawfully obtained evidence
• Practice to date

VII. Presentation and Modes of Evidence

• Trial Chamber’s Control over the Presentation of Evidence (Robert Heinsch)
• Forms of Examination (Matthew Gillett)
• Key Rule: 140 ICC RPE
• Hostile Witnesses
• Prior recorded testimony (Clare Lawson)
• Witness preparation / witness coaching (Liz Heffernan)
• Oath (Amir Cengic)
• Specific regimes for vulnerable witnesses (Aditya Menon)
• Sexual violence victims / corroboration requirements
• In camera procedure
• Immunity from testifying (including compellability of a witness) (Mariya Peykova)
• Compellability
• Immunity [Only Rule 73 ICC RPE, not Rule 74]
• Self-incrimination (Karim A.A. Khan)
• Electronic Courts and the Challenges in Managing Evidence (Thomas Koerner)
• Plea Bargaining / Admission of Guilt (Nancy Combs)

VIII. Evidence at Sentencing and Post-Trial (editing Philipp Ambach)

• Evidence at Sentencing (Gideon Boas)
• Evidence in reparation proceedings (Elena-Alexandra David)
• Additional evidence on appeal (Barbara Goy)
• New evidence through review / revision + new evidence at re-trial (Emiliya Viktorova)

Project Manager: Apl.-Prof- Dr. Peter Rackow Universität Göttingen erhält EU-Förderung für Forschung zu den Auswirkungen der Digitalisierung des Strafverfahrens

Die Abteilung für Ausländisches und Internationales Strafrecht und Strafprozessrecht (Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Kai Ambos) des Instituts für Kriminalwissenschaften gehört zu einem Team von sechs Partnern, dem von der EU-Kommission eine größere Fördersumme zugesprochen wurde, um die Auswirkungen der Digitalisierung des Strafverfahrens auf die Beschuldigtenrechte bzw. die Rechte der Verteidigung zu untersuchen. Das Projekt wird koordiniert durch die Universität Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (--> https://www.digirights.net). Ziel ist es, eine Digitalisierung der Verfahrensrechte zu fördern, die einen einheitlichen und angemessenen Schutzstandard in der EU gewährleistet. Durch nationale rechtliche und empirische Untersuchungen - unter Berücksichtigung von Belgien, Kroatien, Estland, Deutschland, Ungarn und Italien - und eine europäische und vergleichende Studie wird das Projekt bewerten, inwieweit die Digitalisierung von Verfahrensrechten ihrer klassischen Anerkennung gleichwertig ist.

Neues aus dem Projekt: https://www.digirights.net/post/digirights-newsletter-no-3

English project description

Editors: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Kai Ambos / Prof. Dr. José Martinez

Date: 2021-2023

The project “Göttingen Handbook for Latin American Law” brings together authors from different countries, in their majority from Latin America. The authors will elaborate essay-like papers regarding topics of transnational and regional (Latin American) interest from their national perspective but will integrate experiences and legal practices from other Latin American jurisdictions.

The envisaged publication will take a public law perspective, with a special focus on comparative constitutional and criminal law. The area of criminal law will include international criminal law (the persecution of international crimes at a national level and the relation between gender and transitional justice), criminal law (aspects of legality and proportionality, but also questions of prevention and restorative justice), criminal procedure (abbreviated procedures, sentencing reductions based on remorse/ following a guilty plea, evidence and jury trials). Moreover, the book will address broader criminal justice topics, such as, drug policies, corruption, impunity and penal populism. Regarding comparative constitutional law the book will examine, among others, the following subjects: the Ibero-American concept of democracy, the separation of powers, state of emergency and derogation and the welfare state.

The book will be published by the German publisher Nomos in English via open access.

Verfasser*in	Bezeichnung	Zeitraum	Download
Aboueldahab, Susann	Gender-Based Crimes in Contemporary International Criminal Law: The Case of the Colombian Special Jurisdiction for Peace	ab WiSe 17 / 18
Armbrecht, Eric	Das Strafzumessungsmodell der Sentencing Guidelines nach englischem Vorbild	ab WiSe 2019 / 2020	PDF
Freixo, Inês	The limits of international commissions of inquiry that aim for criminal accountability
González Espinosa, Rodolfo	Command responsibility and its implications in Mexico	ab WiSe 2016
Morato, Simón	When is the equality of arms principle violated in criminal proceedings? Proposal for a better understanding and application of the “disadvantage” concept in Colombian Criminal Proceedings on the basis of international experiences	ab WS 2020	PDF
Mzee, Sabine (geb. Klein)	Der Komplementaritätsgrundsatz in Art. 17 Rom-Statut und der Friedensprozess in Uganda	ab 08 / 2009	PDF (DE) PDF (EN)
Sandino, Diego Tarapues	Die politisch motivierten Straftaten im Kontext der Überzeugungs- und Gewissenstat in Kolumbien	ab WiSe 2012	PDF
Sandoval, Sem	Die medidas cautelares im Strafverfahren und die Problematik der Kontrollen der Einflussnahmen der Regierung und Behörden auf die genannten Maßnahmen - Ein Vergleich zwischen Chile und Deutschland	ab WiSe 2019 / 2020
Schoepe, Christopher	Digitale Daten als Erkenntnisgegenstand im Ermittlungsverfahren	ab 04 / 2013	PDF
Urquizo, Gustavo	Die Kenntnis der Vortat der Geldwäsche

Verfasser*in	Bezeichnung	Zeitraum	Download
Costa Reis, Diego Pessoa	N.A.	N.A.	N.A.
Romero, Eneas	The role of criminal law in the Brazilian Supreme Court and in the German Constitutional Court		PDF (ES) PDF (EN)
Sandoval, Sem	Die medidas cautelares im Strafverfahren und die Ausgestaltung der Maßnahmen zur Sicherung des Erkenntnisverfahrens und der Urteilsvollstreckung in Deutschland – Ein Vergleich zwischen Chile und Deutschland

Verfasser	Bezeichnung	Zeitraum	Download
Alkatout, Josef	The legality of targeted killings in view of direct participation in hostilities	Mai 2010-	PDF (Abstract) PDF (Contents)
Barthe, Christopher	Die Zurechnungsform der joint criminal enterprise im Völkerstrafrecht	01.09.2004 bis Ende 2008	PDF
Gustavo Cote Barco	RÜCKWIRKUNG UND DIE ENTWICKLUNG DER INTERNATIONALEN VERBRECHEN: Elemente einer allgemeinen Konzeption des nullum-crimen-sine-lege-Prinzips im Völkerstrafrecht	10/2017
Egle, Julia	Räume staatlicher Souveränität innerhalb des Internationalen Strafgerichtshofs	2015 / 2016	PDF
González-Fuente, Rubilar	HE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IN FRAMEWORK OF THE CHILEAN TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE. An analysis from the victims’ perspective	Oktober 2010 - September 2012	PDF
Governa, Jacopo	The discretionary power of the Prosecutor of the ICC and its limits	ab SoSe	PDF (EN)
He, Yingxin	Head of State Immunity and the Obligation of a Non-State Party to Surrender the Head of State of a Non-State Party to the ICC	WS 2016 - Februar 2024
Heinze, Alexander	Die Offenlegung von Beweisen (disclosure) als Rechtsinstitut im adversatorischen Strafverfahren und Völkerstrafprozess	Ende: Dezember 2013	N.A.
Lanza, Giulia	INDIRECT PERPETRATION WITHIN THE MEANING AND THE APPLICATION OF ART. 25(3)(a), THIRD ALTERNATIVE, OF THE ROME STATUTE	WS 17/18 - Oktober 2018	PDF
Malby, Steven	Human Rights and Criminalization	WS 17/18 - Juli 2018	PDF
Dennis Miller	Die Beteiligung an der strafbaren Handlung im italienischen Strafrecht aus rechtsvergleichender Sicht	Februar 2002 - Dezember 2005	PDF
Ousman Njikam	The Contribution of the Special Court for Sierra Leone to the Development of International Humanitarian Law	Ende 2011	PDF
Kyung-gyu Park	Die Natur, konkrete Elemente und praktischer Anwendungsbereich von Art. 25 Abs. 3 Nr. (d) IStGH-Statut	ab 09 / 2010	PDF
Christopher Penkuhn	Existenz, Begriff und Inhalt eines ordre public-Vorbehalts im europäischen Rechtshilfeverkehr	Oktober 2014 - April 2019	PDF
Petersen, Luca Alexander	Probleme des transnationalen Zugriffs auf elektronische Beweismittel im Lichte der europäischen Beweisrechtshilfe	ab Mai 2020	PDF
Pirmurat Said	Legitimation der Errichtung des Obersten Irakischen Strafgerichtshofs (ursprünglich Irakische Sondertribunal)	Anfang 2007 bis Ende 2010	PDF
Alexander Schwarz	Geschlechtsspezifische Verbrechen in bewaffneten Konflikten und ihre Verfolgung durch das Völkerstrafrecht – Eine Untersuchung unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Verfahrensrechts	Sommer 2013 - Sommer 2018	PDF
Ignaz Stegmiller	The (Pre-)Investigative Stage of the International Criminal Court	2006 - 16.12.09	PDF
John Zuluaga	Der richterliche Rechtsschutz im Rahmen des nachträglichen Prüfungsverfahren von strafprozessualen Grundrechtseingriffe in Kolumbien	Anfang 2017	PDF

Verfasser	Bezeichnung	Zeitraum	Download
Peng Chang	Die strafrechtliche Bekämpfung der Geldwäsche in Deutschland und China		PDF
María Cecilia Dómine	Die Anwendung der Ökonomischen Analyse des Rechts im Strafrecht und Völkerstrafrecht		N.A.
Rodrigo Andres González-Fuente Rubilar	Juristische Werkzeuge, die in Chile benutzt worden sind, um die Menschenrechtensverletzungen im Zusammenhang mit der ,,Transitional Justice“ zu bewältigen.	WS 2008/09 bis WS 2009/10	PDF
Elina Galani	Transitional Justice im Kosovo unter Berücksichtigung der EULEX Rechtsstaatlichkeitsmission
Landivar Tufiño, Sebastian	N.A.	N.A.	N.A.
Ousman Njikam	International Criminal Law and Sierra Leone	2005 - 2008	N.A.
Pirmurat Said	Legitimation des Obersten Irakischen Strafgerichthofs	bis 01/2010	PDF
Hsiang Pan	Menschenrechte, Humanitäres Völkerrecht und Völkerstrafrecht	SoSe 2009	PDF
Kyung-gyu Park	Tatortsbestimmung bei grenzüberschreitenden abstrakten Gefährdungsdelikten im Internet - Anwendbarkeit des dt. Strafrechts auf exterritorial handelnde Internet-Benutzer		N.A.
Diego Tarapués Sandino	Theoretische Grundlagen der strafrechtlichen Behandlung des politischen Delikts	-WS 2012	PDF
Fan Yingying	Der materielle Verbrechensbegriff in Deutschland und China	SoSe 2010	PDF
John Zuluaga	Der richterliche Rechtsschutz im Ermittlungsverfahren. Begriff und Grundlagen.	SoSe 2009	PDF (DE) PDF (ES)
Hsu Jung-Yi	Zur Vermeidung der Befangenheit des Gerichts - unter besonderer Bezugnahme auf die richterliche Aufklärung im Hauptverfahren.		PDF
Gustavo Cote Barco	nullum crimen sine lege im Völkerstrafrecht: Zwischen dem moralischen Vorwurf und der Legalität		PDF
Gustavo Urquizo	Die Kenntnis der Vortat der Geldwäsche
He, Yingxin	Lebensgefährliche Notwehr gegen einen flüchtenden Räuber - Ein Rechtsvergleich zwischen China und Deutschland	WiSe 2014 bis SoSe 2015

Verfasser	Bezeichnung	Zeitraum	Download
Kristin Bettge	Die Kontrolle der Polizei im französischen Ermittlungsverfahren - eine rechtsvergleichende Arbeit	SoSe 2006 bis WS 2007/18	PDF
Annika Beyer	Kontrolle der Kontrolleure - Bei der Überwachung Europols von EU-Mitgliedstaaten lernen?	2003 - 2005	PDF
Alexandra Karmeinsky	Schengen und Polen	2004 - 2005	PDF
Szymon Świderski	Die Kontrolle der Polizei im Ermittlungsverfahren – Staatsanwalt oder Ermittlungsrichter - eine rechtsvergleichende Arbeit Großbritannien – Deutschland	SoSe 2006 bis WS 2007/08	PDF
Philipp Wegner	Die Integration neuer Mitgliedsländer in die PJZS, der 3. Säule der EU	SoSe 2006 bis WS 2007/08	PDF
Andre Hottenrott	Die Vorratsdatenspeicherung unter Berücksichtigung des Aspektes der Terrorismusbekämpfung	SoSe 2008 bis WS 2009/10	PDF

Verfasser	Bezeichnung	Zeitraum	Download
Peter Rackow	Das Problem der so genannten neutralen Handlungen	2001 bis Anfang 2007	PDF