Security Council

6156^th Meeting (AM)

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS TERM OF OFFICE OF JUDGES FOR INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL

TRIBUNAL FOR RWANDA, IN EFFORT TO EXPEDITE COURT’S COMPLETION OF WORK

Urging the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda to take all possible measures to complete its work expeditiously, the Security Council today extended the term of office of six permanent judges until 31 December 2010, or until the completion of the cases to which they were or will be assigned if sooner.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1878 (2009), tabled by Austria, under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Council also extended until the same date the term of office of 11 ad litem judges.

Stressing that it did so without setting a precedent, the Council also decided, among other things, that two judges (Judge Joseph Asoka Nihal from Sri Lanka and Judge Emile Francis Short from Ghana) might work part-time and engage in another judicial occupation of independent status in their home countries during the remainder of their terms of office.

Expressing its expectation that the extension of the term of office of judges would contribute towards the implementation of the Tribunal’s completion strategy, the Council further decided to review the extension of the term of office of the permanent judges who were members of the Appeals Chamber by 31 December 2009.

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) was established in 1994 by resolution 955 for the prosecution of persons 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.  It may also deal with the prosecution of Rwandan citizens responsible for genocide and other such violations of international law committed in the territory of neighbouring States during the same period.

The Council was briefed on 4 June by Judge Dennis Byron, the Tribunal’s President and Prosecutor Hassan Bubacar Jallow, as well as Thomas Mayr-Harting of Austria, Chairman of the Council’s informal working group on the International Tribunals.  (For details, see Press Release SC/9670.)

The names of judges whose term of office was extended today can be found in the full text of the resolution.

The meeting started at 10:15 a.m. and adjourned at 10:19 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1878 (2009) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Taking note of the letter to the President of the Council from the Secretary-General dated 19 June 2009, attaching the letter from the President of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (“the International Tribunal”) dated 29 May 2009 and the letter from the President of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia dated 27 May 2009 (S/2009/333), and the letter to the President of the Council from the Secretary-General dated 26 June 2009, attaching the letter from the President of the International Tribunal dated 15 June 2009 (S/2009/334), and the letter to the President of the Council from the Secretary-General dated 2 July 2009, attaching the letter from the President of the International Tribunal dated 1 July 2009 (S/2009/336),

“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, 1717 (2006) of 13 October 2006, 1824 (2008) of 18 July 2008 and 1855 (2008) of 19 December 2008,

“Recalling in particular its resolutions 1503 (2003) of 28 August 2003 and 1534 (2004) of 26 March 2004, in which the Security Council calls on the International Tribunal to take all possible measures to complete investigations by the end of 2004, to complete all trial activities at first instance by the end of 2008, and to complete all work in 2010,

“Taking note of the assessment by the International Tribunal in its Completion Strategy Report (S/2009/247) that the Tribunal will not be in a position to complete all its work in 2010,

“Having considered the proposals submitted by the President of the International Tribunal,

“Expressing its determination to support the efforts made by the International Tribunal towards the completion of its work at the earliest date,

“Recalling that in its resolution 1824 (2008) the Security Council extended the term of office of permanent judges Mehmet Güney (Turkey) and Andrésia Vaz (Senegal), who are members of the Appeals Chamber, until 31 December 2010, or until the completion of the cases before the Appeals Chamber if sooner,

“Expressing its expectation that the extension of the term of office of judges will enhance the effectiveness of judicial proceedings and contribute towards the implementation of the Completion Strategy of the International Tribunal,

“Noting that permanent judge Sergei Aleckseevich Egorov ( Russian Federation) intends to resign from the International Tribunal,

“Convinced of the need to enlarge the membership of the Appeals Chamber in view of the anticipated increase in the workload of the Appeals Chamber upon completion of the trial proceedings,

“Stressing the need to ensure that none of the Appeals Chamber judges is assigned to any case to which he or she was assigned at the pre-trial or trial stage,

“Noting the concerns expressed by the President of the International Tribunal about the terms and conditions of service of ad litem judges in light of their duration of service and share of the workload of the International Tribunal,

“Urging the International Tribunal to take all possible measures to complete its work expeditiously,

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

“1.   Decides to review the extension of the term of office of the permanent judges at the International Tribunal, who are members of the Appeals Chamber, by 31 December 2009, in light of the progress of the International Tribunal in the implementation of the Completion Strategy;

“2.   Decides to extend the term of office of the following permanent judges at the International Tribunal, who are members of the Trial Chambers, until 31 December 2010, or until the completion of the cases to which they are assigned if sooner:

-- Charles Michael Dennis Byron ( Saint Kitts and Nevis)

-- Joseph Asoka Nihal de Silva (Sri Lanka)

-- Khalida Rachid Khan ( Pakistan)

-- Arlette Ramaroson ( Madagascar)

-- William H. Sekule (United Republic of Tanzania)

“3.   Decides that the term of office of the permanent judge appointed to replace Sergei Aleckseevich Egorov (Russian Federation) shall extend until 31 December 2010, or until the completion of the cases to which he or she will be assigned if sooner;

“4.   Decides to extend the term of office of the following ad litem judges, currently serving at the International Tribunal, until 31 December 2010, or until the completion of the cases to which they are assigned if sooner:

-- Aydin Sefa Akay ( Turkey)

-- Florence Rita Arrey ( Cameroon)

-- Solomy Balungi Bossa ( Uganda)

-- Taghrid Hikmet ( Jordan)

-- Vagn Joensen ( Denmark)

-- Gberdao Gustave Kam ( Burkina Faso)

-- Joseph Edward Chiondo Masanche (United Republic of Tanzania)

-- Lee Gacugia Muthoga ( Kenya)

-- Seon Ki Park ( Republic of Korea)

-- Mparany Mamy Richard Rajohnson ( Madagascar)

-- Emile Francis Short ( Ghana)

“5.   Decides to allow ad litem judge Joensen to serve in the International Tribunal beyond the cumulative period of service provided for under article 12 ter, paragraph 2, of the Statute of the International Tribunal;

“6.   Decides, in light of the exceptional circumstances, that notwithstanding article 12 bis, paragraph 3, of the Statute of the International Tribunal, Judge Joseph Asoka Nihal de Silva and Judge Emile Francis Short may work part-time and engage in another judicial occupation or occupation of equivalent independent status in their home countries during the remainder of their terms of office until the completion of the cases to which they are assigned; takes note of the intention of the International Tribunal to complete the cases by mid-2010; and underscores that this exceptional authorization shall not be considered as establishing a precedent.  The President of the International Tribunal shall have the responsibility to ensure that this arrangement is compatible with the independence and impartiality of the judges, does not give rise to conflicts of interest and does not delay the delivery of the judgement;

“7.   Decides that notwithstanding article 11, paragraph 1, of the Statute of the International Tribunal, and on an exceptional basis, Judge Egorov, once replaced as a member of the International Tribunal, complete the cases which he began before his resignation; and takes note of the intention of the International Tribunal to complete the cases by the end of 2009;

“8.   Decides to amend article 13, paragraph 3 of the Statute of the International Tribunal as set out in the annex to this resolution;

“9.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.

Annex

Article 13:  Officers and members of the Chambers

3.    After consultation with the permanent judges of the International Tribunal for Rwanda, the President shall assign two of the permanent judges elected or appointed in accordance with article 12 bis of the present Statute to be members of the Appeals Chamber of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and eight to the Trial Chambers of the International Tribunal for Rwanda.  Notwithstanding the provisions of article 11, paragraph 1, and article 11, paragraph 3, the President may assign to the Appeals Chamber up to four additional permanent judges serving in the Trial Chambers, on the completion of the cases to which each judge is assigned.  The term of office of each judge redeployed to the Appeals Chamber shall be the same as the term of office of the judges serving in the Appeals Chamber.

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For information media • not an official record