ICC - Solemn undertaking of the Registrar

Solemn undertaking of the Registrar

ICC-CPI-20030704-23

The International Criminal Court reached its first year of existence with the solemn undertaking of its Registrar Mr. Bruno Cathala (France) during an open session of the Court presided by Judge Philippe Kirsch (Canada). The ceremony was held today at the ICC premises.

At Mr. Bruno Cathala’s swearing-in, the 47-year-old lawyer and former judge promised to exercise the responsibilities confided to him strictly within the framework laid down by the Rome Statute, its Preamble, and the Rules of Procedure and Evidence. He explained that these texts have allocated to the Court the mission of becoming an international legal authority operating within a pluralist international system. An institution that is both legitimate and wise.
“It is because the Court will be such an Authority that its decisions will be truly meaningful in individual countries, and throughout the world, for both victims and the accused. Furthermore, it is this dimension that will enable the principle of complementarity between national and international justice to operate in harmony,” he said.
“The justice rendered by the Court must be understood by people of every race, be they African, Asian, American or European,” he added. Ensuring judicial administration will allow the Registry to fulfil the needs expressed by the judges, the Prosecutor, the defence or the victims.
“The Registry is a service provider whose essential objective is to facilitate the production of legal decisions, and their execution, within a reasonable period, following fair and public trial. The simple fact that the Registry is involved neither with the judges, nor with the parties in the trial, makes it useful to all players in the trial proceedings,” he expressed.
“I shall pay particular attention to the situation of counsel and promote the rights of the defence, consistent with the principle of fair trial, as laid down by the Statute”. With respect to witnesses and victims he underlined that one of the essential tasks of the Registry is to ensure their protection and their security. “I shall undertake this task, ever mindful of the challenge facing the Court to operate efficiently, in the framework of conflicts which in many cases have produced numerous victims. In this field, everything will have to be minted afresh.”

The President of the ICC, Judge Philippe Kirsch, said that the Registry is entrusted with the non-judicial aspects of the administration and servicing of the Court, and it will have a pivotal role in the participation of victims in trials, the organisation of defence counsel and the establishment of effective co-operation with States. “The judges have been working conscientiously, in collaboration with the Office of the Prosecutor and the Registry, so that we will be ready with a co-ordinated common strategy. I am confident that this collaboration between the three pillars of the Court will reinforce the credibility, transparency and efficiency of the International Criminal Court,” he added.

The solemn undertaking by the Registrar was witnessed by the Vice-President of the Assembly of States Parties, Ambassador Allieu Ibrahim Kanu (Sierra Leone). In his statement, Ambassador Kanu said that the fact that the Court is now up and running sends a loud and clear message that abuses and atrocities of the past will no longer go unpunished.

In reference to the duties of the Assembly of States Parties, the governing body of the ICC, Ambassador Kanu expressed: “We must continue to encourage more states to accede to the Rome Statute, we must work to ensure that the Court receives sufficient resources to perform its work, and we must support the development of national legislation to implement the Rome Statute. In this way we can be confident that the Court will soon begin delivering the impartial and fair international justice expeditiously.”

The Prosecutor Mr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo acknowledged the important role that the Registrar will play in the management and administration of the Court. He recognised the distinguished qualifications of Mr. Cathala to carry out his duties and pledged his support.
“Many times I have been told that I, as the Prosecutor of the ICC, have the most difficult and lonely job on earth. I am pleased to note today that there is at least someone that has a more difficult job than mine: the Registrar of the International Criminal Court,” he said.

Mr. Jeroen H. Brouwer, Dean of the Netherlands Bar Association and Vice-President of the International Criminal Bar Association, was invited to intervene on behalf of the Defence.
“The emerging system of international criminal justice will be fragile, especially in these early days,” he said.
Mr. Brouwer underlined the importance of involving counterparts in the building of the Court. “Creating the ICC is not just the business of governments it also involves creating an international legal community around the ICC –the academics, lawyers and professional associations that actually make the court systems work,” he said.