When Interpol Comes Calling…™

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNALS
There are several types of international criminal tribunals in existence today. The International Criminal Court is the only one that is designed to be independent and autonomous of the United Nations or any national justice system. Other courts are either ad hoc creations of the United Nations or hybrid courts that apply two or more legal systems.

International Criminal Court
The ICC is an independent court with jurisdiction over individual with respect to crimes committed since July 1, 2002. Cases may be referred by States Parties, the United Nations Security Council, and by states consenting to the Court’s jurisdiction.

Ad Hoc Courts
Ad hoc courts are creations of the United Nations with limited jurisdiction as to geographical place, time, and events.
International Criminal Tribunal For The Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
The ICTY was established by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 827 in 1993 for the purpose of adjudicating serious violations of international human rights law that occurred in the territory of the former Yugoslavia since 1991. The ICTY Statute criminalizes the human rights violations of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The ICTY completion strategy calls for finality of all trials and appeals by 2010.

International Criminal Tribunal For Rwanda (ICTR)
The ICTR was established by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 955 in 1994 for the purpose of adjudicating serious violations of international human rights law that occurred in the territory of Rwanda from January 1, 1994 to December 31, 1994. The ICTR Statute criminalizes human rights laws for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The ICTR completion strategy calls for finality of all trials and appeals by 2010.

Hybrid Courts
Hybrid courts enforce a combination of domestic and international criminal laws and may be formed by the United Nations alone for a specific purpose or may be formed by treaty between the U.N. and a single nation. In addition, the hybrid court may operation apart from the national judicial system (Sierra Leone) or may be integrated with it (Cambodia).
Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia
The Chambers is a joint national/international court established by the government of Cambodia and the United Nations to address serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in that region, primarily by members of the Khmer Rouge, in the 1970s.

Iraqi High Criminal Court (Formerly Iraqi Special Tribunal)
The IST was established by the United States-led Iraqi Governing Counsel in 2003. Its mandate is to prosecute any Iraqi national or resident charged with a violation of its statute between July 17, 1968 and May 1, 2003. The alleged acts may have occurred “in the territory of the Republic of Iraq or elsewhere,” and may include the armed conflicts with Iran or Kuwait. In 2005, the IST embarked upon the prosecution of former President Saddam Hussein. The IST Statute contains a blend of international and Islamic criminal law.

Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL)
The SCSL was established jointly by the government of Sierra Leone and the United Nations. It is charged with prosecuting any serious violations of international humanitarian law and Sierra Leonean law that were committed in the territory of Sierra Leone on or after 30 November 1996.

Special Tribunal for East Timor
The East Timor Tribunal, and its Special Panels for Serious Crimes, was established jointly by the governments of East Timor/Indonesia and the United Nations to prosecute serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the first 10 months of 1999. The Tribunal claims to have completed its work in May 2005 with a total of 84 defendants convicted and 3 defendants acquitted on all charges. The work of the Tribunal is under review by the United Nations.