The International Criminal Defence Attorneys Association (ICDAA) was created in 1997 as a non-profit organization incorporated in Canada with headquarters in Montreal, Quebec , Canada . We have offices in the Netherlands and in the United States and are incorporated in the U.S.A.
We are a young organization that creates international alliances partnerships with larger more established associations, notably: national and regional bars, defence lawyers' associations, law schools and Non-Governmental Organizations such as the Coalition for the International Criminal Court.
We are increasingly recognized on the international stage. For example, we have special consultative status from the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), confirming our role as an expert in the field of international crimial justice and the rule of law (See Affiliations). - Vision - Mission - Achievements - Projects & Activities
The objectives of the Association are to: 1. Ensure a highly professional defence for persons accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity who are to be tried before international tribunals, such as those established at The Hague and Arusha and the recently created International Criminal Court (ICC); 2. Organize a full, thorough and structured defence with the aim of bolstering the legitimacy of the judicial process established by the international community to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity; 3. Bring together in a professional Association the defence attorneys who are responsible for preparing and pleading cases to be tried by various international tribunals, in particular the permanent International Criminal Court (ICC) which the United Nations proposes to establish; 4. Organize the training and continuing education of attorneys pleading before international tribunals, with the aim of developing their knowledge of international criminal law; 5. Help establish uniform ethical standards with which attorneys in the Association must comply; 6. Strive to guarantee that Association members meet the highest professional standards; 7. Share with the International Community experience and knowledge derived from the adversarial system of justice; 8. Encourage communication among lawyers specializing in criminal law from countries around the world. 9. Assist in the development of international criminal law and in particular of international institutions such as the International Criminal Court (ICC).
