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Claudia Fenz, International Judge of Trial Chamber

VOICES FROM THE ECCC (Extraordinary Chambers in the Court of Cambodia)/THE KHMER ROUGE TRIBUNAL.

  1. Please tell us your name, your position, and a brief summary of your duties at the ECCC.
  2. You have over 35 years experience as a judge in investigation, trial and appeals courts, including several years in the field of international criminal justice. Can you provide any insight into what brought you to the ECCC?
  3. What are your thoughts on the positive and negative aspects of a hybrid court (or restrictions or freedoms that you found at the ECCC)?
  4. Can you comment on any significant challenges faced as an international judge at the ECCC?
  5. Can you provide any anecdotes on interactions or relationships within the ECCC that were meaningful to you? (i.e., working with other judges or staff)
  6. You’ve worked in other international courts (e.g., the U.N. Interim Administration in Kosovo, Head of the Rule of Law section within the European Union Coordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support [EUPOLCOPPS] Mission in Palestine), how would you compare your experience in Kosovo and Palestine with the ECCC?
  7. EUPOLCOPPS provided support to the Palestinian police and criminal justice sector (2006-2008). Understanding that the ECCC’s context and mission is different, how would you describe ECCC’s support to the rule of law in Cambodia? Can you provide any comments on areas that the ECCC appears to have contributed to the rule of law in Cambodia and areas where the ECCC could have been better?
  8. Are there any lessons learned, best practices, or recommendations that stand out in your mind based on your time at the ECCC? What do you see to be significant challenges for future courts handling mass atrocities based on your work at the ECCC?
  9. Can you recall any experiences at the ECCC that changed your perspective, opinion, or practice?
  10. Can you recall any accused or survivor stories that resonate with you?
  11. What do you think the major impacts of the ECCC will be on Cambodian society? Both today and twenty years from now?

(Photo by SAN Bunsim September 18, 2019 )