Yearbook of the United Nations, 2003. Part 4, Legal questions. Chapter 2, International tribunals

Abstract

In 2003, the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 (ICTY)moved forward with its strategy to complete investigations in 2004 and first instance trials in 2008. In May, the Security Council amended the ICTY statute to permit ad litem judges, during the period of their appointments to a trial, also to adjudicate in pre-trial proceedings in other cases. The Council reappointed Carla Del Ponte as the Tribunal's Prosecutor for a four-year term with effect from 15 September 2003. During the year, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 (ICTR) rendered five judgements, the greatest number delivered in a single year. The Council amended the ICTR statute in order to increase the number of ad litem judges who might be used at any given time from four to nine and to empower them to adjudicate in pre-trial proceedings in cases other than those they had been appointed to try. The Council further amended the ICTR statute to establish a new position of ICTR Prosecutor, and subsequently appointed Hassan Bubacar Jallow as Prosecutor for a four year term with effect from 15 September 2003. Until then, the ICTY Prosecutor had also acted as the ICTR Prosecutor.