Call for Comments on Amendments to the Regulations of the Registry

Today, 27 April 2012, the Registrar of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is launching a one-month call for comments on the recent amendments to the Regulations of the Registry. The amendments aim to adapt the identified regulations to the current practice – in particular those pertaining to the detained persons and victims – and would have a strong impact on the judicial proceedings of the Court. The Registry will consider and aim to incorporate all comments received by the end of May 2012 in the final amendments.

Proposed amendments

The Regulations of the Registry exist to guide this organ of the Court in fulfilling its mandates, and the amendments reflect the Court’s 10 years of experience as well as adaptations tailored to current practices. For example, restrictions would be applied on detainees’ use of some facilities for the security and good order of the Detention Centre. Victims’ rights to participate and be recognized would also be reinforced, by strengthening the mechanism of their legal representation as regulated by the Rome Statute, the Rules of Procedure and Evidence and the Regulation of the Court.

Review process

Today’s call for comments is an essential step in the amendment process, and ensures that the Registry benefits from external consultations (including web consultations) with individual experts, scholars, civil societies, NGOs and other institutions with relevant expertise. After the call for comments, at the end of June 2012, the Registry will convene a workshop for additional discussion among experts. The Registry will then consult with other organs of the Court -- the Office of the Prosecutor and Chambers -- and submit the final amendments to the Presidency for approval.

The present amendments were proposed by Registry staff whose daily activities are regulated by this text, and can be found here: English | French.

For further information, please click here.

For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head ofPublic Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or +31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: [email protected].

You can also follow the Court’s activities on YouTube and Twitter.