The launch of the Arusha Branch of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT) was marked by a ceremony held today in Arusha, Tanzania. 

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 (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) after the completion of their respective mandates. 

The website of the United Nations Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT) is now available at www.irmct.org.

The launch of the Mechanism’s website coincides with the official launch of the MICT Arusha Branch on 2 July 2012, which will carry out the remaining functions of the ICTR, including trial and appellate proceedings, and the supervision and enforcement of sentences.  The Hague Branch of the Mechanism, which will take on functions derived from the ICTY, will commence work on 1 July 2013.

The Judges of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT) recently adopted the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, to guide the work of the institution mandated with carrying out a number of essential functions of the ICTY and the ICTR after the completion of their respective mandates. Judge Theodor Meron, President of the MICT, expressed his gratitude to the Judges of the MICT for their cooperation in considering and adopting the Rules on an expedited basis.

The Tribunal’s President, Judge Theodor Meron, today addressed the United Nations Security Council to provide an update on the work and achievements of the Tribunal over the past six months. In his second address to the Security Council since becoming President in November 2011, President Meron reported on steps taken in the implementation of the Tribunal’s Completion Strategy, the transition to the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals and the positive impact of recent reforms on the pace of the Tribunal’s work.

Judges Ivo Nelson de Caires Batista Rosa (Portugal) and Graciela Susana Gatti Santana (Uruguay) were sworn in last Friday remotely by the Registrar John Hocking. The two Judges are the last of the 25 Judges who will serve the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals to be sworn in as Judges of the Mechanism.

The President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, Judge Theodor Meron, presided here today over the official swearing-in of those Judges of the ICTR who have been elected Judges of the International Residual Mechanism. Judges Florence Arrey, Solomy B. Bossa, Vagn Prüsse Joensen, Gberdao G. Kam, Joseph C. Masanche, Lee Muthoga, Seon K. Park, Mparany M. R. Rajohnson, and William H. Sekule were each sworn in by Registrar of the International Residual Mechanism, Mr. John Hocking. 

Four judges of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, who are located outside of the Mechanism’s two branches in The Hague and Arusha were today sworn in remotely by Registrar John Hocking: Aydin Sefa Akay (Turkey), Jose Ricardo de Prada Solaesa (Spain), Ben Emmerson (UK), and Aminatta Lois Runeni N’gum (The Gambia).

Earlier this week nine Judges who are currently serving in the ICTY were sworn in during a ceremony at The Hague. 

The President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, Judge Theodor Meron, presided today over the official swearing-in of those Judges of the ICTY who have been elected Judges of the International Residual Mechanism. Following the swearing in of the President, Judges Carmel Agius, Jean-Claude Antonetti, Christoph Flügge, Burton Hall, Liu Daqun, Bakone Justice Moloto, Prisca Matimba Nyambe, Alphons Orie, and Patrick Robinson were each sworn in by Registrar of the International Residual Mechanism, Mr. John Hocking.  

The United Nations Secretary-General has appointed Judge Theodor Meron as President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals for a term of four years effective 1 March 2012. 

Judge Meron has been serving as the President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia since November 2011, a position that he will continue to hold while performing his functions at the Residual Mechanism.

The Security Council, recalling its decision of 22 December 2010 to establish an International Residual Mechanism to “continue the functions” of the International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda in anticipation of completion of the courts’ work, this morning appointed the Prosecutor of the “Mechanism”, to begin his four-year term tomorrow, 1 March.