Witness protection - national procedures for ICC proceedings

Trinidad and Tobago

The International Criminal Court Act 2006

PART III
GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE

24. (1) This Part applies to a request by the ICC for assistance that is made under—
(a) Part 9 of the Statute, namely—

(xi) the protection of victims and witnesses and the preservation of evidence;

PART III
GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE

29. (2) If the ICC requests that particular information that is made available with a request for assistance be provided and handled in a manner that protects the safety and physical or psychological well-being of any victims, potential witnesses, and their families, the Trinidad and Tobago authorities shall use their best endeavours to give effect to that request.

PART V
DOMESTIC PROCEDURES FOR OTHER TYPES OF CO-OPERATION

Taking evidence and producing documents

85. (1) The applicable law with respect to compelling a person to appear before a Judge under section 83 or 84 and to give evidence or answer questions, or to produce documents or other articles, is the law specified in subsection (2) and that law applies with any necessary modification.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the applicable law is the law of Trinidad and Tobago that applies to the giving of evidence or the answering of questions or the production of documents or other articles on the hearing of a charge against a person for an offence against the law of Trinidad and Tobago.
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), for the purposes of sections 83 and 84, the person to whom the investigations being conducted by the Prosecutor, or the proceeding before the ICC relates, is competent but not compellable to give evidence.

(4) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a person who is required under section 83 or 84 to give evidence, or to produce documents or other articles, is not required to give any evidence, or to produce any document or article, that the person could not be compelled to give or produce in the investigation being conducted by the Prosecutor or the proceeding before the ICC.
(5) A person who is required under section 83 or 84 to give evidence or to produce documents or other articles—
(a) has the same privileges in relation to the answering of questions and the production of documents or articles as if the investigation was being conducted in Trinidad and Tobago or the proceeding was pending in a Trinidad and Tobago court, as the case may be; and
(b) shall be given a copy of any statement required to be given to a witness under the Rules in the manner and form required by the Rules.
(6) Subsections (4) and (5) apply subject to section 31 and any contrary provision in the Statute or the Rules.

PART V
DOMESTIC PROCEDURES FOR OTHER TYPES OF CO-OPERATION

Protecting Victims and Witnesses and Preserving Evidence

110. (1) This section applies if the ICC requests assistance under—
(a) article 93(1)(j) of the Statute in protecting victims and witnesses or preserving evidence;
(b) article 19(8), or paragraph (2) or (3) of article 56, in preserving evidence.
(2) The Attorney General may give authority for the request to proceed if he is satisfied that—
(a) the request relates to an investigation being conducted by the Prosecutor or a proceeding before the ICC; and
(b) the assistance sought is not prohibited by Trinidad and Tobago law.
(3) If the Attorney General gives authority for the request to proceed—
(a) he shall—
(i) take such steps as he thinks appropriate in the particular case;
(ii) forward the request to the appropriate Trinidad and Tobago agency; and
(b) that agency shall, without delay—
(i) use its best endeavours to give effect to the request;

(ii) make such report on its endeavours as it considers to be appropriate in the circumstances; and
(iii) deliver the report to the Attorney General.

Rome Statute

Article 93 Other forms of cooperation

1. States Parties shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Part and under procedures of national law, comply with requests by the Court to provide the following assistance in relation to investigations or prosecutions:

(j) The protection of victims and witnesses and the preservation of evidence;