africa/global: icc marks first birthday

International Criminal Court Celebrates First Year
All Senior Officials Elected; Building Up Staff and Court Premises Continues

(New York, July 1, 2003) - The International Criminal Court (ICC)
today celebrates the one year anniversary of its jurisdiction over
genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Since the July 1,
2002 entry into force of the court's treaty, the Rome Statute, the
ICC has seen the adoption of its primary governing instruments and
the election of all of its senior officials.

"As one great democracy celebrates its Declaration of Independence,
the world's democracy celebrates its declaration of interdependence,
founded on a new system of international law, justice and democracy,"
said William Pace, convenor of the more than 2,000 member Coalition
for the ICC.

Under the direction of the now 90 countries to have ratified the Rome
Statute, the work of building up the world's first permanent,
independent and international criminal court began swiftly last year
with the adoption of numerous legal instruments governing the court's
operations. These documents include a budget for the first financial
period, the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, the Elements of Crimes,
the Financial Regulations and Rules, the Agreement on Privileges and
Immunities and the Basic Principles Governing a Headquarters
Agreement between the ICC and the Netherlands.

In The Hague, the Netherlands, where the ICC is based, an advance
team of personnel opened the doors of a provisional office on July 1,
2002. In October 2002, a Division of Common Services took up the work
of developing the financial, technological, administrative and other
infrastructures necessary for the court's continued expansion. In
February 2003, the 90 member Assembly of States Parties elected the
ICC's first 18 judges, who were then sworn in during the ICC's
Inaugural Session in March. In April, its first chief Prosecutor, Mr.
Luis Moreno Ocampo of Argentina, was elected. In June, Mr. Moreno
Ocampo was sworn in and, during a plenary meeting of the judges, Mr.
Bruno Cathala of France became the final senior official elected when
he received a unanimous vote to serve as Registrar. Mr. Cathala will
take office following a swearing in ceremony this Thursday, July 3.

The court continues its search for highly qualified professionals
from around the world to complete its staffing. It also moves forward
its work of formalizing policies, regulations and procedures; many of
these duties which will fall under the purvey of the soon to be
established office of the Registrar. Furthermore, the ICC will
complete construction of its premises in the building of a court
room, pre-trial chamber room, media center, library and public
gallery. While construction is not expected to be completed until
summer 2004, the Netherlands as Host State will provide a provisional
court room for before that time if necessary.

With the Prosecutor and a small number of his senior staff members
instated, the office of the Prosecutor has already begun the process
of examining the more than 400 situations referred to the court since
it opened its doors on this day last year. He is expected to make
his first report shortly.