Registrars’ round table on the administration of justice
The Registrars of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) will hold a round table on the administration of justice from 2 to 3 July 2009, in Venice, Italy.
During the round table the Registrars will hold discussions on how to overcome challenges that are common to all of these institutions. They will address questions such as, how to ensure efficiency in discharging the Registrars’ very broad and complex responsibilities or how to secure adequate and timely funding, one of the guarantees of an independent judicial institution.
Other sessions will focus on the Registry’s responsibility in and approach to obtaining co-operation from States and other key players, in particular with regard to the enforcement of outstanding arrest warrants, the freezing of assets or the protection of witnesses.
The meeting will also serve to talk about the process and consequences of the closing down of tribunals/courts, or in the case of the ICC, the eventual closing of a situation. Connected to this topic of residual functions/mechanisms, the Registrars will tackle the important role the Registries have to play in preserving the legacy of the work of the tribunals/courts.
While addressing all of the topics referred to above, the Registrars will seek to identify possible areas of mutual assistance and co-operation with a view to advancing the administration of justice.
The meeting will be attended by Ms Silvana Arbia, Registrar of the ICC; John Hocking, Registrar of the ICTY; Adama Dieng, Registrar of the ICTR; Binta Mansaray, Acting Registrar of the SCSL; and Herman von Hebel, Acting Registrar of the STL.
In all of these tribunals/courts the Registry represents the biggest organ (in terms of staff and resources) and combines the most diverse areas of expertise and operations, such as defence, victims, witnesses, detention, court management, languages, administration, field operations, public information, security, etc.).
The Registry, as a neutral organ, equally serves the judges, the prosecution, the defence and also the victims and witnesses. “This organ that operates very often behind the scenes plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality of justice in international/internationalized courts/tribunals. The importance of the Registry’s mandate is at times not well understood, which unfortunately impacts on its ability to carry out its mandate in an effective and efficient manner”, says the Registrar of the ICC, Ms Arbia.
She is confident that the meeting with the Registrars is an excellent opportunity to reflect on how to reinforce the Registries and by doing so strengthening the respective judicial institutions overall.
Thanks to the Circolo Artistico di Venezia and its Director, Mr Salvatore Lo Giudice, the round table will take place in the historical halls of the Palazio delle Prigioni. It is in this building during the Venetian Republic the magistrates called ‘I Signori di Notte al Criminal’ heard criminal cases.
For further information please contact Ms Sonia Robla, Head of Public Information and Documentation Section at +31 (0)70 515-8089 or (0)6 46 44 87 26 or at [email protected]