PREPARATORY COMMISSION FOR INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT HEARS PROGRESS REPORTS FROM WORKING GROUP COORDINATORS

Press Release
L/2961

PREPARATORY COMMISSION FOR INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT HEARS PROGRESS REPORTS FROM WORKING GROUP COORDINATORS

Bosnia and Herzegovina Announces Signing of Court Treaty

Bosnia and Herzegovina announced its signing of the treaty establishing the International Criminal Court this morning, as the Preparatory Commission for the Court continued its work on two key texts necessary to the Court's functioning.

The representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina said the people of her country had recently been the victims of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes and many of the perpetrators of those crimes were still at large.

The Commission met this morning to hear progress reports from the coordinators of two of its working groups on various aspects of the Court's Statute. At its last meeting on Friday, the coordinator for the working group on penalties reported that the group had completed its work. The other four coordinators reported that they expected to be in a position to present their reports this week.

The Commission has a mandated deadline of 30 June to complete work on two aspects of the Court's Statute that are essential to its eventual functioning: the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, and Elements of Crimes.

The Rules of Procedure and Evidence cover such issues as composition and administration of the Court, penalties for crimes, obligations of international cooperation and assistance, as well as enforcement of sentences. On the matter of crimes initially within the Court’s jurisdiction -- genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity -- the Commission is working to identify what elements would constitute those crimes and would need to be proven in order to obtain convictions. In the category of crimes against humanity, it is discussing such crimes as murder, enslavement, extermination, persecution, disappearance and sexual crimes.

Also at this morning's meeting, the Chairman, Philippe Kirsch (Canada), announced that a provisional work plan for the next session in November would be distributed. Meetings for the working group on financial regulations and rules had been set for the first week to accommodate the financial people who would be coming from their capitals specifically for that subject.

The Commission will meet again in plenary at 10 a.m. Wednesday, 28 June.

ICC Preparatory Commission - 2 - Press Release L/2961 21st Meeting (AM) 26 June 2000

Reports from Working Group Coordinators

HERMAN VON HEBEL (Netherlands), Coordinator for the Elements of Crimes, said the working group had succeeded in reaching a formulation for the wording on "perpetrator". That concept of perpetrator would be incorporated throughout the document on elements of crimes. The group had also settled several technical issues. In the context of crimes against humanity, agreement had been reached on the elements concerning sexual slavery and enslavement. However, there was still a question pending on torture and the requirement of purpose. "Informal" informals had begun on the chapeau for crimes against humanity, and those informals would continue this afternoon and into the evening, if rooms were available.

PHAKISO MOCHOCHOKO (Lesotho), Coordinator for the Rules of Procedure and Evidence relating to Part 9 (International Cooperation and Judicial Assistance) and to Part 10 (Enforcement), said that in the group's meeting on Friday afternoon, it had completed its work on Part 10. There had been a preliminary discussion on article 98.2 of Part 9, which had been conducted in a positive and constructive manner. Useful suggestions had been made that could be carried forward to narrow the differences. The working group would be convened later during the week, at which time he hoped it would be possible to finalize the work on Part 9.

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