Training ICC onsite

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The Power of Stories

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A powerful story is about a sympathetic main character who is confronted with a near insurmountable challenge that will be resolved just before the end of the story.

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'Horrible bosses'

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'The Beauty & the Beast'

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'Romeo & Juliette'

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Real life.

CC: World Press Photo

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'Make me smell it!'a powerful story is a story I can feel, hear, see, touch and smell

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'Show don't tell'A powerful story shows the reader what is happening rather then explains it to the reader.

CC: World Press Photo

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Talk to me!A powerful story is written like a conversation with a friend

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'Cut to the chase'a powerful story is never longer than it absolutely has to be

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All your work serves only one master: the readera powerful story is a story that helps me to make sense of the world, and, ideally, teaches me something about myself

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Humans of the CourtUltra short stories from the field of human rights

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Humans of the court'When they came, we ran without looking back'

Astride's hands tremble while she rearranges her dress. The courts hearing today makes her think back to that moment that changed her life, and that of her husband and children, for ever. Will today be the beginning of justice being done, ending her sleepless nights?

Allthough today perpetrators are to stand justice at the International Criminal Court in Uganda, she feels it is right, but she feels no relief. Not yet. What she has seen happening to family members and neighbours has been scarred in her soul. Today she follows the trial hearing with friends and families. Will it help her to move forward or will she relive the experiences like she fears?

The hearing is about to begin and Astride moves forward to find a place where she can see the television screen clearly. She seems to hover above the ground, elegantly, radiating the importance of the moment at hand.

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This story is part of the series: 'Humans of the Court' in which people working on the ground for the ICC tell us about their experiences and of the people who’s lives have been directly affected by the interplay of international crimes and international human rights.

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