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STORY: GENEVA / SYRIA CRIMES
TRT: 2:12
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 5 SEPTEMBER 2017 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Exterior, Palais des Nations
2. Wide shot, press briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (French) Catherine Marchi-Uhel, Head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Crimes in Syria:
"I feel both proud and especially humbled to have been chosen for this challenge which is so important for the people of Syria and to avoid crimes that have made so many victims for more than six years as the conflict rages unpunished in this country."
4. Close up, photographer
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Catherine Marchi-Uhel, Head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Crimes in Syria:
”The Mechanism is starting its operations more than six years into the conflict. It is an independent entity but it does not operate in a vacuum. It should build extensively on the information and evidence already collected by others.”
6. Med shot, journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Catherine Marchi-Uhel, Head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Crimes in Syria:
“My short-term plan involves a number of priorities, including the recruitment of the Mechanism’s team, the adoption of the internal procedures and methods of work, setting up secured ways of receiving information from entities and individuals. The Syrian conflict has been taglined as the most recorded conflict in the world. The volume and variety of potentially relevant electronic data collected by individuals, NGOs and other entities is unprecedented. Consequently, identifying and acquiring Information technology best able to safely process the sheer volume of material to be collected by the Mechanism is among the key priorities.”
8. Close up, journalist
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Catherine Marchi-Uhel, Head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Crimes in Syria:
“Established against a background of daunting allegations of international crimes and of flagrant impunity, the Mechanism is globally raising important hopes and expectations not least on the part of Syrian victims and the civilian population at large. I am inspired by their dignity and fortitude and draw strength from their courage as I begin the difficult work ahead.”
10. Med shot, journalists
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Catherine Marchi-Uhel, Head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Crimes in Syria:
“The history of international justice is actually telling us that accountability is no question, it has to happen – in my view it will happen.”
12. Med shot, journalists
Appearing for the first time before international media, the head of the recently established international body charged with paving the way for prosecution of serious violations of international law in Syria, said that accountability for crimes committed during more than 6 years of war is not in question.
Speaking today (5 Sept) to reporters in Geneva, newly appointed head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) on crimes in Syria Catherine Marchi-Uhel said, "The history of international justice is actually telling us that accountability is no question, it has to happen – in my view it will happen.”
Judge March-Uhel's office, or "the Mechanism", is formally called the "International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Those Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011", and was established by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2016. The French magistrate was recently appointed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Marchi-Uhel explained that "the Mechanism is starting its operations more than six years into the conflict. It is an independent entity but it does not operate in a vacuum. It should build extensively on the information and evidence already collected by others.”
Among the interlocutors that are expected to provide information to the Mechanism are the Commission of Inquiry on Syria, Syrian and international civil society actors, as well as UN Member States. Since violent unrest erupted in March 2011 and as the country descended into armed conflict, many of these entities have been extensively documenting violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, some of which may amount to international crimes, including crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The material they have gathered is an integral part of what the Mechanism will seek access to, with a view to implementing its mandate.
She said, “My short-term plan involves a number of priorities, including the recruitment of the Mechanism’s team, the adoption of the internal procedures and methods of work, setting up secured ways of receiving information from entities and individuals.” Marchi-Uhel added, “The Syrian conflict has been taglined as the most recorded conflict in the world. The volume and variety of potentially relevant electronic data collected by individuals, NGOs and other entities is unprecedented. Consequently, identifying and acquiring Information technology best able to safely process the sheer volume of material to be collected by the Mechanism is among the key priorities.”
In describing the function of her office, Marchi-Uhel said that " the Mechanism is neither a prosecution office nor a court. Its mandate is two-fold: on the one hand, it is tasked with collecting, consolidating, preserving and analysing such information and evidence; on the other hand, with preparing files in order to facilitate and expedite fair and independent criminal proceedings, in accordance with international law standards, in national, regional or international courts or tribunals that have or may in the future have jurisdiction over these crimes."
The Chairperson of the Mechanism said, “Established against a background of daunting allegations of international crimes and of flagrant impunity, the Mechanism is globally raising important hopes and expectations not least on the part of Syrian victims and the civilian population at large.” She added, “I am inspired by their dignity and fortitude and draw strength from their courage as I begin the difficult work ahead.”
Marchi-Uhel brings to the position more than 27 years of experience in the judiciary in the fields of criminal law, transitional justice and human rights.
