The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) is “delivering justice efficiently and with a completion mindset,” its President, Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, told the Security Council on Tuesday.
In her briefing, she underscored the need for ongoing cooperation from States to address critical, unresolved challenges, including the situation of six acquitted or released persons in Niger. She also noted the successful closures of the Kigali Field Office in August and the External Relations Office during the reporting period.
The Mechanism is also facing challenges related to the conversion of the UN Detention Unit into a prison facility due to some States’ inability to continue enforcing sentences, and the case against Petar Jojić and Vjerica Radeta has been pending for nearly a decade due to Serbia’s lack of cooperation in arresting and transferring the accused.
Judge Santana outlined the Mechanism’s remaining residual activities, including supervising the enforcement of sentences, providing assistance to domestic jurisdictions in closing the impunity gap, and preserving and managing the archives of the ad hoc Tribunals and the Mechanism.
She reported that, between January 2020 and the end of 2024, the Mechanism will have reduced its staff by 60% and its budget by 30%.
“We are prepared to conclude this work and to fulfil your promise to Rwanda and the States of the former Yugoslavia that justice will be done,” said Judge Santana, adding that the Mechanism is equally prepared to facilitate the responsible transfer of its functions in due course.