GENERAL ASSEMBLY ELECTS 18 AD LITEM JUDGES FOR RWANDA TRIBUNAL, TO EXPEDITE COMPLETION OF TRIALS

Fifty-seventh General Assembly

Plenary

92^nd Meeting (PM)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ELECTS 18 AD LITEM JUDGES FOR RWANDA TRIBUNAL,

TO EXPEDITE COMPLETION OF TRIALS

The General Assembly this afternoon elected 18 ad litem judges for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

By resolution 1431 (2002), the Security Council decided to establish a pool of ad litem judges in the Rwanda Tribunal to expedite its work.  It is envisioned that the additional judicial manpower will allow the Tribunal to complete its trials by 2008, instead of the original tentative date of 2017.

The Assembly held two rounds of balloting, since in the first round 21 of the 23 candidates received the required absolute majority.  The procedures established for the election state that if, on the first ballot, more than 18 candidates obtain an absolute majority –- in the Assembly, 97 votes -– a second ballot will be held on all candidates, and balloting will continue until 18 candidates and no more obtain an absolute majority.

The judges elected today, who will serve four-year terms, were:  Aydin Sefa Akay (Turkey), Florence Rita Arrey (Cameroon), Solomy Balungi Bossa (Uganda), Robert Fremr (Czech Republic), Taghreed Hikmat (Jordan), Karin Hokborg (Sweden), Vagn Joensen (Denmark), Gberdao Gustave Kam (Burkina Faso), Tan Sri Dato ‘Hj. Mohd. Azmi Dato ‘Hj. Kamaruddin (Malaysia), Flavia Lattanzi (Italy), Kenneth Machin (United Kingdom), Joseph Edward Chiondo Masanche (United Republic of Tanzania), Lee Gacuiga Muthoga (Kenya), Seon Ki Park (Republic of Korea), Mparany Mamy Richard Rajohnson (Madagascar), Emile Francis Short (Ghana), Albertus Henricus Joannes Swart (Netherlands) and Aura Emerita Guerra de Villalaz (Panama).

The Security Council created the Tribunal, located in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, in November 1994, to prosecute people responsible for genocide and other serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the territory of Rwanda between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1994.  The Tribunal may also deal with the prosecution of Rwandan citizens responsible for genocide and other violations of international law committed in neighbouring States over the same period.

The memorandum by the Secretary-General concerning the election is contained in documents A/57/801 and Adds.1 to 5.  The curricula vitae of the candidates are contained in document A/57/802.

The next meeting of the Assembly will be announced.

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