International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals
Encyclopedia
The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals is a mechanism established by United Nations Security Council resolution
1966 (2010)
to finish the work begun by the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
(ICTR). It will be subdivided into two branches corresponding the current two tribunals. The ICTR branch is to begin functioning on 1 July 2012, the ICTY branch on 1 July 2013. The resolution establishing the Mechanism calls upon the two tribunals to finish their work by 31 December 2014 and to prepare their closure and transition of cases to the Mechanism. The Mechanism "shall continue the jurisdiction, rights and obligations
and essential functions of the ICTY and the ICTR" (paragraph 4 of the UNSCR 1966).
The Mechanism will not have the power to indict people except those who interfere with the administration of justice or give false testimony (paragraph 1 of the Statute of the Mechanism).
The Mechanism will comprise one Trial Chamber for each branch and a common Appeals Chamber. The Prosecutor will be responsible for both branches.
As of July 2011, nine indictees are still at large; all of them were indicted by the ICTR: Pheneas Munyarugarama, Ladislas Ntaganzwa
, Aloys Ndimbati
, Charles Ryandikayo, Charles Sikubwabo
, Augustin Bizimana
, Félicien Kabuga
, Protais Mpiranya
and Fulgence Kayishema
.
As of August 2011, in the ICTY three cases against five persons are in the Pre-Trial Phase, eight cases against 14 persons are in the Trial Phase and five cases against 17 persons are in the Appeals phase. It is the ICTY's goal to finish all proceedings on its own by 2013, save the trials against Ratko Mladić
and Goran Hadžić
.
In the ICTR, there is one case against one person in the Pre-Trial Phase, six cases against ten persons are in the Trial Phase and nineteen persons' proceedings are in the Appeals Phase. The ICTR has not yet issued an up-to-date estimation on its ability to complete specific trials by the 2012/2014 deadlines.
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1966 (2010)
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1966
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1966, adopted on December 22, 2010, after recalling resolutions 827 and 955 , the Council established a residual mechanism to conclude the remaining tasks of the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and former Yugoslavia...
to finish the work begun by the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda is an international court established in November 1994 by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 955 in order to judge people responsible for the Rwandan Genocide and other serious violations of international law in Rwanda, or by Rwandan...
(ICTR). It will be subdivided into two branches corresponding the current two tribunals. The ICTR branch is to begin functioning on 1 July 2012, the ICTY branch on 1 July 2013. The resolution establishing the Mechanism calls upon the two tribunals to finish their work by 31 December 2014 and to prepare their closure and transition of cases to the Mechanism. The Mechanism "shall continue the jurisdiction, rights and obligations
and essential functions of the ICTY and the ICTR" (paragraph 4 of the UNSCR 1966).
The Mechanism will not have the power to indict people except those who interfere with the administration of justice or give false testimony (paragraph 1 of the Statute of the Mechanism).
The Mechanism will comprise one Trial Chamber for each branch and a common Appeals Chamber. The Prosecutor will be responsible for both branches.
As of July 2011, nine indictees are still at large; all of them were indicted by the ICTR: Pheneas Munyarugarama, Ladislas Ntaganzwa
Ladislas Ntaganzwa
Ladislas Ntaganzwa is a Rwandan fugitive war criminal wanted for his role in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. According to his indictment, Ntaganzwa, as mayor of Nyakizu, a commune of Butare, was instrumental in rallying Hutu Power fervor leading up to the genocide, and as the genocide began,...
, Aloys Ndimbati
Aloys Ndimbati
Aloys Ndimbati is a Rwandan fugitive war criminal, wanted in connection to his role in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. According to his warrant, as mayor of the Kibuye commune Gisovu, he was present at the scene of and participated in the killings of Tutsis across Kibuye.-References:...
, Charles Ryandikayo, Charles Sikubwabo
Charles Sikubwabo
Charles Sikubwabo is a Rwandan fugitive war criminal wanted for his role in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. He served as mayor of the Kibuye prefecture Gishyita from 1993 till July 1994. According to the indictment against him, Sikubwabo played an instrumental role in the murder of Tutsis in the Kibuye...
, Augustin Bizimana
Augustin Bizimana
Augustin Bizimana is a Rwandan politician. He is chiefly known for his alleged role in the Rwandan Genocide.Born in Gituza commune, Byumba Province, Rwanda, of Hutu ethnicity, Bizimana held the position of Minister of Defence in the government of Juvénal Habyarimana formed on 18 July 1993.After...
, Félicien Kabuga
Félicien Kabuga
Félicien Kabuga is a Rwandan businessman, accused of bankrolling and participating in the Rwandan Genocide. He has always claimed he is innocent.-Early life:...
, Protais Mpiranya
Protais Mpiranya
Protais Mpiranya is a Rwandan soldier, who is alleged to have participated in the Rwandan Genocide.- Background and role in genocide :An ethnic Hutu, Mpiranya was born in Gitarama prefecture. In 1993, he held the rank of major in the Rwandan Armed Forces and was second-in-command of military...
and Fulgence Kayishema
Fulgence Kayishema
Fulgence Kayishema is a Rwandan Hutu militiaman wanted for war crimes in relation to his role in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. Born in Kivumu, he was the inspector of the judicial police there at the time of the genocide...
.
As of August 2011, in the ICTY three cases against five persons are in the Pre-Trial Phase, eight cases against 14 persons are in the Trial Phase and five cases against 17 persons are in the Appeals phase. It is the ICTY's goal to finish all proceedings on its own by 2013, save the trials against Ratko Mladić
Ratko Mladić
Ratko Mladić is an accused war criminal and a former Bosnian Serb military leader. On May 31, 2011, Mladić was extradited to The Hague, where he was processed at the detention center that holds suspects for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia...
and Goran Hadžić
Goran Hadžic
Goran Hadžić is a former president of the Republic of Serbian Krajina who was in office during the Croatian War of Independence. He is accused of crimes against humanity and of violation of the laws and customs of war by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.The court...
.
In the ICTR, there is one case against one person in the Pre-Trial Phase, six cases against ten persons are in the Trial Phase and nineteen persons' proceedings are in the Appeals Phase. The ICTR has not yet issued an up-to-date estimation on its ability to complete specific trials by the 2012/2014 deadlines.
Links
- United Nations Security Council resolution 1966 (2010) establishing the Mechanism. Retrieved 1 June 2011.