Tomorrow, the trial against Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé (Blé Goudé) will commence before Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in relation to allegations of crimes against humanity committed in the context of the post-election violence in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, between 16 December 2010 and 12 April 2011.

This case is important because it is the first ICC case to reach the trial stage in the Côte d’Ivoire Situation. It responds to the period of violence that followed Côte d’Ivoire’s 2010 presidential elections in which Laurent Gbagbo and Blé Goudé were allegedly involved, along with other individuals.

Read the full Statement of the Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice.