The records from the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (“ICTR”) have now all been transferred into the custody of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (“Mechanism”).

The President of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (“MICT” and “Mechanism”), Judge Theodor Meron, today presented the latest progress report on the work of the MICT to the United Nations Security Council and urged the release of Judge Aydin Sefa Akay from detention in Turkey.

Prosecutor Serge Brammertz of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT) and International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) today addressed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
 
In his address, Prosecutor Brammertz updated the UNSC on the ICTY’s final trial and appeal, the MICT’s trial and appeals, the search for the remaining eight fugitives indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the provision of assistance to national jurisdictions prosecuting war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced yesterday the appointment of Mr. Olufemi Elias of Nigeria as the Registrar of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (“MICT” or “Mechanism”), effective 1 January 2017.

Mr. Elias will succeed Mr. John Hocking of Australia, who has been serving as the Registrar of the MICT since January 2012. The Secretary-General expressed his gratitude to Mr. Hocking for his service, including his instrumental role in setting up the Mechanism, and overseeing the construction of its new premises in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania.

The official opening of the new premises of the Arusha Branch of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (“MICT” or “Mechanism”) was marked by a ceremony held on Friday, 25 November 2016, in Arusha, presided over by H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, who delivered the keynote speech. The ceremony brought together over 300 attendees, including Government representatives from the United Republic of Tanzania, representatives of the international community and the United Nations, judges and staff of the MICT, and the media.

Media are invited to attend the official opening ceremony of the new premises of the United Nations Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (“MICT”) in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania. The MICT President, Judge Theodor Meron, Prosecutor, Mr. Serge Brammertz, and Registrar, Mr. John Hocking, will be joined by high dignitaries of the United Republic of Tanzania, as Host State, the Republic of Rwanda, the United Nations, and the diplomatic community.

ICTY and MICT Prosecutor Serge Brammertz will be in Sarajevo on 14 and 15 November 2016, as part of preparations for his regular biannual reports to the UN Security Council (UNSC).

The Prosecutor will meet with members of the BiH Presidency, President of the BiH Court Meddžida Kreso and Acting Chief Prosecutor Gordana Tadić.

The Prosecutor will also meet with representatives of victims’ organizations and members of the diplomatic community.

It is expected that Prosecutor Brammertz will present his next reports to the UNSC in early December.

MICT Prosecutor Serge Brammertz was in Nairobi, Kenya on 10 and 11 November, where he was a lead participant in a conference to establish the Great Lakes Judicial Cooperation Network.

Judge Theodor Meron, President of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (“MICT”), yesterday met with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon.

During the meeting, which took place at UN headquarters in New York, President Meron expressed his appreciation to the Secretary-General for his sustained commitment to the success of international justice over the course of the past decade and for his leadership in giving a voice to victims of horrific crimes.

President Theodor Meron today presented the fourth Annual Report of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (“MICT”) to the United Nations General Assembly and briefed the Assembly on the ongoing detention of a Judge of the Mechanism, Judge Aydin Sefa Akay of Turkey, by Turkish authorities.