Press Resources

The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (“Mechanism”) recognizes the important role played by the media in facilitating greater access to its work. While responsible for protecting the integrity of judicial proceedings, the Mechanism is committed to assisting the media in ensuring fair and accurate reporting of its work.

General information and court material

Press interested in Mechanism activities, press or court-related material (including indictments, legal filings, photographs, courtroom footage, etc.) should contact the External Relations Office at mict-press [at] un.org or call +255 (0)27 256 5376 (Arusha) or +31 (0)70 512 5691 or 5231 (The Hague).

To receive press releases and other notifications, subscribe to our mailing list.

Journalists are also welcome to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Interview requests

To request an interview with an official from Chambers or the Registry at both branches of the Mechanism, please contact the External Relations Office at mict-press [at] un.org or call +255 (0)27 256 5376 (Arusha) or +31 (0)70 512 5691 or 5231 (The Hague).

To request an interview with an official from the Office of the Prosecutor, please use ContactOTP [at] un.org or call +31 (0)70 512 5278.

Requests for audio-visual material and photographs

Audio-visual material related to the Mechanism’s mandate, activities and relevant events, as well as footage of hearings, including initial appearances and the pronouncement of a judgement, can be viewed on the Mechanism’s Youtube channel and website.

To request additional material from ongoing Mechanism cases, contact the External Relations Office at mict-press [at] un.org or call +255 (0)27 256 5376 (Arusha) or +31 70 512 5691 or 5231 (The Hague).

To obtain footage from completed cases of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), please contact the Archives and Records Section in Arusha on marsarusha [at] un.org or call +255 27 256 5509.

To obtain footage from completed cases of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), please contact the Archives and Records Section in The Hague at marshague [at] un.org.

A wide range of photographs of Mechanism hearings, activities and events can be downloaded from the Mechanism’s Flickr account. To request additional material, please contact the External Relations Office.

All audio-visual material and photographs are provided free of charge without copyrights. However, you are requested to indicate that the material was provided courtesy of the Mechanism. 

Attending hearings

Hearings in trials before the Mechanism are generally open to the public and can be attended by media representatives. On regular hearing days, no prior accreditation is required. To attend, journalists need to present a valid photographic identification document and a valid press card at the entrance of the Mechanism’s premises.

For high-profile hearings (e.g., an initial appearance, the start of a trial, the pronouncement of a judgement) prior registration may be required. Before such hearings, information about media accreditation and related procedures will be shared on the Mechanism’s website and circulated by email to journalists on the mailing list. To subscribe to Mechanism news, please send an email to mict-press [at] un.org.

Public hearings can also be followed online on the Mechanism’s Courtroom Broadcast webpage (Arusha, The Hague) with a 30-minute delay, unless the hearing is for the initial appearance or the pronouncement of a judgement, in which case the hearing may be broadcast live. Please consult the Court Calendar for the latest information on upcoming hearings.

Practical information

Please note that in Arusha, there is limited parking available on the Mechanism’s premises. Media representatives can also park outside the Mechanism’s premises and walk in.

In The Hague, no parking is allowed on the Mechanism’s premises. Media representatives can use parking facilities offered by the World Forum and in the surrounding area. Journalists are kindly asked to use the public entrance located on Churchillplein 1.

All persons entering the Mechanism premises at either branch are subject to security checks of their person and their belongings. No one is permitted access to the building without complying fully with the requirements of the Mechanism security officers. 

The media is allowed to film or record interviews in front of the Mechanism’s respective buildings. However, no filming, audio recording, or taking of photographs is allowed inside the buildings without advance written permission from the External Relations Office.

Recording devices, cameras, laptops and telephones are not permitted in the public galleries of the courtrooms. Please leave such electronic devices with Security in the deposit boxes at the main entrance. If you use storage, please plan for extra time to store your items. Please note that the Mechanism shall not be liable for any loss or damage to any items or equipment.

You are invited to carefully read the Rules of decorum before entering the public gallery. 

You can choose to hear the proceedings in the floor language (the language used in the courtroom), in English or in French and in the language of the accused. The channels for the different languages are indicated in the public gallery.

Journalists working at the Mechanism have direct access to External Relations staff to assist in their work. Additionally, journalists have access to Wi-Fi at all times and, during high-profile media events, desk space with power outlets.

Important

A Chamber might determine that certain courtroom proceedings are to be conducted in closed session, fully or partially, in order to protect the safety of victims and witnesses or the confidentiality of sensitive evidentiary material. Moreover, a closed session can be ordered in the course of a hearing and may last anywhere from a few minutes, or several hours or days.