International Residual Mechanism for Criminal…

The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals is poised to enter the next phase of its operations, its President said today as she briefed the Security Council on the substantial progress in its judicial cases, while speakers cited the completion of the remaining work as “essential” for rounding up the historical chapter of international criminal justice.

Graciela Gatti Santana, President of the Mechanism, reported that the Appeals Chamber just handed down its last judgment concerning crimes committed during the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, in the case against Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović.  With this judgment, the ambitious journey of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia has ended and the cases against 161 persons indicted by the Tribunal completed.  On the Kabuga case, a majority of judges decided Félicien Kabuga is not fit to stand trial.

Thus, the Trial Chamber will continue the proceedings through an alternative findings procedure to give Mr. Kabuga an opportunity to establish his innocence of the charged offences, she reported. With only the Kabuga case on the Mechanism’s docket, and with in-court proceedings all but concluded, senior managers from all three organs are working on a workforce plan.  Further, a Panel on Judicial Functions will produce recommendations regarding the Mechanism’s continuous judicial activities. “This represents a watershed moment in the life of the Mechanism and for international criminal justice more generally,” she said.

In the ensuing discussion, speakers highlighted the Mechanism’s essential role in ensuring accountability and preventing the commission of new atrocities. Many speakers welcomed the careful preparation for the Mechanism to enter into the next phase in its lifecycle — a truly residual mechanism.

The meeting began at 3:02 p.m. and ended at 5:25 p.m.