Security Council

6052^nd Meeting (AM)

AIMING TO EXPEDITE WORK OF RWANDA GENOCIDE TRIBUNAL, SECURITY COUNCIL

 

AUTHORIZES SECRETARY-GENERAL TO APPOINT UP TO THREE AD HOC JUDGES

 

Seeking to have the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda complete trials and conduct additional ones as soon as possible in order to meet its completion strategy, the Security Council today decided that the Secretary-General might appoint up to three additional ad litem judges that would, from time to time, temporarily exceed the maximum of nine provided for in the Court’s Statute.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1855 (2008) under Chapter VII, the Council decided that the above provision would be in place until 31 December 2009.  It also decided to amend article 11, paragraph 2, of the Statute of the International Tribunal as set out in the annex to this resolution.

(Article 11, concerning the Chambers’ composition, says that each Trial Chamber may be divided into sections of three judges each.  A section of a Trial Chamber shall have the same powers and responsibilities as a Trial Chamber under the present Statute and shall render judgment in accordance with the same rules.)

The Council took note of the letter to the Council President from the Secretary-General attaching the letter to him from the President of the International Tribunal dated 10 December (document S/2008/799), and had considered the proposals on the issue made by the Tribunal’s President.

Called to order at 10:18 a.m., the meeting was adjourned at 10:20 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1855 (2008) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its resolutions 955 (1994) of 8 November 1994, 1165 (1998) of 30 April 1998, 1329 (2000) of 30 November 2000, 1411 (2002) of 17 May 2002, 1431 (2002) of 14 August 2002,

“Recalling in particular that resolution 1503 (2003) of 28 August 2003 called upon the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (the International Tribunal) to take all possible measures to complete all trial activities at first instance by the end of 2008 and to complete all work in 2010, and that resolution 1534 (2004) of 26 March 2004 emphasized the importance of fully implementing the International Tribunal’s completion strategy,

“Taking note of the letter to the President of the Council from the Secretary-General dated 18 December 2008, attaching the letter to him from the President of the International Tribunal dated 10 December 2008 (S/2008/799), and having considered the proposals made by the President of the International Tribunal,

“Noting that two permanent judges currently serving at the Tribunal will resign by the end of 2008, and that three other permanent judges have indicated their intention to resign upon the completion of their respective cases, and that their replacement would not be necessary if the International Tribunal is authorized to assign more ad litem judges to cases,

“Convinced of the advisability of allowing the Secretary-General to appoint additional ad litem judges to the nine ad litem judges authorized by the Statute, as a temporary measure to enable the International Tribunal to complete trials and conduct additional trials as soon as possible in order to meet its completion strategy,

“Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

“1.   Decides that the Secretary-General may appoint, within existing resources, additional ad litem judges upon request of the President of the International Tribunal in order to complete existing trials or conduct additional trials, notwithstanding that the total number of ad litem judges appointed to the Chambers will, from time to time, temporarily exceed the maximum of nine provided for in article 11, paragraph 1, of the Statute of the International Tribunal, to a maximum of 12 at any one time, returning to a maximum of nine by 31 December 2009;

“2.   Decides to amend article 11, paragraph 2, of the Statute of the International Tribunal as set out in the annex to this resolution;

“3.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.”

Annex

Article 11:  Composition of Chambers

2.    Each Trial Chamber may be divided into sections of three judges each.  A section of a Trial Chamber shall have the same powers and responsibilities as a Trial Chamber under the present Statute and shall render judgment in accordance with the same rules.

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For information media • not an official record