Florence, 14 February 2023
Arabic Lexsitus Team announced the successful completion of the Arabic translation of the Lexsitus Commentary on the Law of the International Criminal Court (CLICC).
This comprehensive work, spanning approximately 2,300 pages, is now available on the Lexsitus platform, which provides extensive resources on international criminal law in multiple languages, including Arabic.
The Arabic version of CLICC will soon be available in two additional formats: an e-book and a printed edition to be distributed via Amazon at cost price. CLICC offers a detailed, provision-by-provision analysis of the Rome Statute and the Rules of Procedure and Evidence of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
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It allows users to efficiently access case law, scholarly doctrine, and commentary at no cost. Through Lexsitus, users can create reading lists and take notes while drafting legal memoranda, articles, or other texts.
Lexitus, the platform hosting the commentary, is managed by Professor Morten Bergsmo, a renowned expert in international law and the coordinator for the establishment of the Office of the Prosecutor at the ICC. Bergsmo was also a close associate of the late Professor Mahmoud Cherif Bassiouni, one of the principal founders of the Court, whom several experts call the godfather of modern international criminal law (ICL). Professor Mark Klamberg serves as the Chief Editor of CLICC and Co-Director of Lexsitus, with Jonas Nilsson and Antonio Angotti as Editors. A group of international law experts contributes as authors to the commentary.
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CLICC has been incorporated into the formal curriculum for international criminal law courses at numerous universities, including Peking University Law School, Edinburgh Law School, the National University of Singapore Faculty of Law, the University of Nottingham School of Law, Queen's University Faculty of Law, Korea University Law School, the Law Faculty of Stockholm University, and the Law Faculty of the University of Oslo.
The Arabic translation of Lexsitus-CLICC was completed in 2021-2022 by a translation group led by Fathi M. A. Ahmed, the Arabic Translation Team Leader of the Centre for International Law Research and Policy (CILRAP), with legal review by a group of lawyers headed by Professor Mohamed S.E.A. Badar. The translation group included Gamal Abdelazim (Copy-preparer and Proofreader), Maisa M. Fathi (Translator), Hagar M. Khalil (Translator), Sara I. Sanad (Translator), and Yasmine O. Shaalan (Translator). The legal review group comprised several Editors: Judge Rima Akoum, Judge Ali Al-Khatib, Sanar Taha Darwish, Hossam Ed-Deen Allam, Judge Mohamed Eltawila, Professor Rana M. Essawy, Mariana Fakih, Dr. Dolly Hamad, and Radwa Khalil who provided the translation group with their informed subject-matter advice.
The translation process followed the methodology used by the United Nations, which emphasizes the use of previous official translations and the application of established terminology within the field.
However, the team introduced two additional elements to enhance the quality of the translation. First, a team of leading Arabic-speaking international law experts, led by Professor Badar, reviewed the legal content to ensure legal accuracy. Second, the translation group provided extensive annotations addressing linguistic and terminological issues, identified shortcomings in the official texts they referenced, and offered suggestions for improvement. These efforts aimed to resolve challenges posed by previous translations and fill any gaps left by the original texts.
In an official video statement, Karim A. A. Khan KC, the ICC Prosecutor announced the release of Lexsitus 2.0, which now includes the Arabic translation of the Commentary on the Law of the International Criminal Court (CLICC). He urged legal professionals to take full advantage of this resource, noting its value for scholars, practitioners, and students of international criminal law. The Prosecutor expressed his hope that Lexsitus will eventually be available in even more languages beyond English, Arabic, French, and Persian, to ensure wider accessibility across the globe.
He highlighted other key services offered by Lexsitus, including the Elements Digest, which is already available in Arabic, French, and Spanish, as well as tools such as the Means of Proof. These resources, according to the Prosecutor, align with his vision for the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) as a hub for enhancing the capacity to investigate and prosecute core international crimes, such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. He stressed that the development of Lexsitus had involved an immense amount of work and dedication, resulting in a comprehensive legal tool for the international criminal law community.
The Prosecutor extended his gratitude to the Lexsitus team, led by Professor Morten Bergsmo, and to the translators and editors who worked on the Arabic, Persian, and French versions of the commentary. He also acknowledged the efforts of reviewers, partner institutions, and donors who contributed to the project. The Prosecutor emphasized that the availability of Lexsitus in multiple languages allows users to engage with it in their native language, significantly expanding its reach and utility across different regions and legal systems.
The Arabic Translation Team Leader, Fathi M. A. Ahmed, expressed gratitude to the team for their dedication, especially in light of the limited budget available for this mostly volunteer-based project. The hope is that the translation will benefit both legal professionals and linguists alike.
ICC Prosecuor's Statement on Lexsitus CLICC.mp4ICC Prosecutor Announces Lexsitus 2.0 including Arabic CLICC
He announced that an online seminar will be held next Saturday, 23 February 2023, at 7:00 PM Cairo time to discuss the challenges encountered during the translation process and the methodology employed to address them. According to him, participants are encouraged to join, ask questions, and contribute to the discussion. Those interested in attending can register via the link provided in the announcement, and an official invitation will be sent by the center to all who wish to participate.
In a heartfelt thank-you letter, Professor Morten Bergsmo expressed his deep appreciation for Fathi M. A. Ahmed's exceptional leadership as the Arabic Translation Team Leader. Bergsmo praised Ahmed for his "outstanding work," noting that his leadership of the team of linguists was "truly exceptional." He highlighted Ahmed's ability not only to meet the project's goals within a limited timeframe but also to set "a remarkable example of effective team management."
Professor Bergsmo also emphasized that Ahmed's contributions extended far beyond translation revision and team coordination. Ahmed played a key role in enhancing the original English version of the Commentary, providing "informed guidance to the subject-matter experts" involved in the project.
Screenshot from Arabic CLICC
The Arabic translation team has also announced that they may be available for collaborating with other organizations on providing high-quality Arabic translations for significant projects, similar to their work on Lexsitus-CLICC. They emphasized their expertise and commitment to delivering translations of comparable caliber, making their services available for future initiatives that require precise and professional translation in the field of law and beyond.
