Security Council Issues Presidential Statement Requesting International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals to Report on Progress by Week’s End
The Security Council requested today that the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals present, by Friday, 20 November, its report on the progress of work in its initial four-year period, and that the related informal working group examine that report, so that a mandated review of the Mechanism would be complete by 21 December.
Issuing presidential statement S/PRST/2015/21, the 15-nation body also stressed its ongoing determination to combat impunity for those responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law, and the necessity that all persons indicted by the International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda were brought to justice.
The Council requested that the Mechanism’s report include detailed schedules for the proceedings currently under consideration and factors relating to projected completion dates for those cases, and that any findings or recommendations by the working group should be presented to the Council for its consideration.
At the outset of the meeting, the Council observed a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of the victims of recent terrorist attacks, including those in Paris on 13 November and in Beirut on 12 November.
The meeting began at 3:05 p.m. and ended at 3:09 p.m.
Presidential Statement
The full text of presidential statement S/PRST/2015/21 reads as follows:
“The Security Council recalls its resolution 1966 (2010) of 22 December 2010, establishing the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals to carry out, in accordance with the provisions of the Statute annexed to that resolution ('the Statute') and the Transitional Arrangements in Annex 2 to resolution 1966 (2010), residual functions of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan citizens responsible for genocide and other such violations committed in the territory of neighboring States, between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1994 (ICTR).
“The Security Council also recalls that, in view of the substantially reduced nature of the residual functions, the Mechanism should be a small, temporary and efficient structure, whose functions and size will diminish over time, with a small number of staff commensurate with its reduced functions.
“The Security Council further recalls its decision that the Mechanism shall operate for an initial period of four years starting from 1 July 2012, and its decision to review the progress of the work of the Mechanism, including in completing its functions, before the end of this initial period and every two years thereafter, and its further decision that the Mechanism shall continue to operate for subsequent periods of two years following each such review, unless the Security Council decides otherwise.
“The Security Council notes the Mechanism’s annual reports to the Security Council and to the General Assembly and its six-monthly reports to the Security Council on the progress of the Mechanism, submitted in accordance with Article 32 of the Statute.
“The Security Council requests the Mechanism to present by 20 November 2015 its report on the progress of its work in the initial period including in completing its functions with detailed schedules for the proceedings currently under consideration as well as factors relevant to projected completion dates for the cases and other matters over which the Mechanism has jurisdiction, including in accordance with Transitional Arrangements in Annex 2 resolution 1966 (2010), ('the report').
“The Security Council requests the Informal Working Group on International Tribunals to carry out, including by reference to an executive summary of available and relevant UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (UN OIOS) reports, a thorough examination of the Mechanism’s report and to present its views and any findings or recommendations for the Council’s consideration in its review of the work of the Mechanism, including in completing its functions with efficiency and effective management. This review will be completed by 21 December 2015 and its outcome shall be reflected by the Security Council in an appropriate form.
“The Security Council notes that the process described in paragraph 6 of the present statement, with any findings or recommendations adopted by the Security Council, shall constitute the review of the work of the Mechanism, as indicated in paragraph 17 of resolution 1966 (2010). It further underlines that this process shall include in the next reviews evaluation reports sought from the UN OIOS with respect to the methods and work of the Mechanism.
“The Security Council further notes that the Informal Working Group on International Tribunals may formulate, if necessary, additional questions to be addressed in the report of the Mechanism requested according to the present Statement.
“The Security Council stresses its ongoing determination to combat impunity for those responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law and the necessity that all persons indicted by the ICTY and ICTR are brought to justice.”