Human rights expert will discuss genocide Jean Migabo Kalere, professor at the Catholic University Law School in Leuven, Belgium, will present a lecture, "Genocide In The African Great Lakes Region: Challenges for the International Criminal Court in the Democratic Republic of Congo" Tuesday, Oct. 10, at 4:30 p.m. in the Baker Court Room, School of Law. The lecture will examine whether the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) investigation might ultimately result in genocide charges and, regardless of whether it does, the challenges that will be faced by the ICC in prosecuting this case. It will begin by tracing the origins of the conflict in the DRC and describe its metamorphosis over the past decade. It will examine the Thomas Lubanga case and also consider the ICC’s challenges in the wider DRC investigation, including the complicated regional dynamics and the fact that suspected criminals in the conflict are currently serving as top-level government officials in the DRC. The lecture is free and open to the public. Kalere is recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities on human rights abuses in the DRC. In the 1990’s, he litigated human rights violation cases in the Congolese Court of Appeal in Bukavu. He served as Executive Secretary for the Commission of Peace and Justice in Bukavu and was then elected by the Congolese Government as President of the Congolese National Commission of Inquiries regarding human rights abuses. Due to his leading role in the fight against human rights violations in the DRC, Professor Migabo Kalere was forced to seek asylum in Belgium. In addition to his public lecture, Kalere will host a faculty workshop, student workshop, visit in relevant law classes, and hold individual meetings with human rights representatives on campus. Prior to his residence at UND, Professor Migabo Kalere will be lecturing at the law schools at Notre Dame University, Northwestern University and the University of Chicago. -- Rob Carolin, Director of Alumni and Public Relations, Law School, carolin@law.und.edu, 7-2856