First status conference of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals to be held on 17 July 2013 in Arusha

A status conference in the case of Augustin Ngirabatware v. The Prosecutor is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, 17 July 2013, at 14:00 hrs in Arusha, Tanzania (Judge Laity Kama courtroom, 4th floor Kilimanjaro).

Judge Theodor Meron, President of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism) and Pre-Appeal Judge in the Ngirabatware case, convened the status conference in accordance with the rules of the Mechanism to allow Mr. Ngirabatware, who is currently in custody at the United Nations Detention Facility in Arusha, the opportunity to raise issues in relation to his detention. The status conference will be the first to be conducted by the Mechanism.

On 20 December 2012, Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) found Mr. Ngirabatware guilty of genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, and rape as a crime against humanity, and was sentenced to 35 years’ imprisonment. Mr. Ngirabatware filed a notice of appeal before the Mechanism on 9 April 2013.

Mr. Ngirabatware was born in Nyamyumba commune, Gisenyi prefecture, Rwanda. He served as the Minister of Planning from 1990 through July 1994.

Established by the Security Council of the United Nations, the Mechanism is mandated to carry out a number of essential functions of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the ICTR after the completion of their respective mandates. The Mechanism assumed authority to hear appeals filed against ICTR judgements on or after 1 July 2012.

The status conference will be open to the public. Journalists wishing to attend the status conference are requested to confirm attendance before 15 July 2013 to Ms. Ana Maria Fernandez de Soto, Associate Legal Officer, Office of the Registrar, at +255 27 256 4105 or fernandezdesoto [at] un.org.