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UN Security Council extends terms of justices at Rwanda tribunal

29 June 2012 23:51 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution allowing certain justices of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) to continue their work on the court beyond the original expiration dates of their terms,APA reports quoting Xinhua.

In resolution 2054, the council "decides that, notwithstanding the expiry of their term of office on 30 June 2012, Judge William H. Sekule, Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa, and Judge MparanyMamy Richard Rajohnson may continue, on an exceptional basis, to serve at the international tribunal until 31 December 2012 or until the completion of the Ngirabatware case which they began before the expiry of their term of office, while taking note of the intention of the international tribunal to complete the Ngirabatware case by 31 December 2012."

The resolution added that the term of office of Judge Vagn Joensen will be extended on an exceptional basis until December 31, 2014 "so that he may continue to perform the functions required of him as trial judge and president of the international tribunal, to complete the work of the tribunal."

The ICTR was established to bring to justice those responsible for perpetrating the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and committing other human rights violations in Rwanda and neighboring countries during the same time period.

In the resolution, the council "takes note of the intention of the international tribunal to complete all remaining judicial work by 31 December 2014." It also reiterates "the importance of the international tribunal being adequately staffed to complete its work expeditiously."