Seat
The seat of the ICC is The Hague in The Netherlands. Currently,
the ICC is temporarily housed at "de Arc", the outskirts
of The Hague, before moving
to
its
permanent location at the Alexanderkazerne. The permanent
premises are planned for occupation sometime between 2007 and 2009.
Establishment
Even though the Statute entered into force on July 1, 2002, it will take some
time before the Court begins its operations. A number of statutory measures
and practical steps still have to be taken before the Court becomes operational.
Whereas the two ad hoc Tribunals for Yugoslavia and Rwanda could be set up
within the framework of the United Nations, the ICC will have to be set up
as a completely new international organization.
With the coming
into force of the Rome Treaty, the Advance Team for the International
Criminal Court began work on July 1, 2002. Its mandate ceased
at the end of October.
The Team consisted
of eight technical experts in, among other things, human resources,
finance, building and facilities management, information technology,
legal matters, and security. With the Host State, the Team was
doing preparatory ground work to enable the Court to start recruiting
and commence its basic operations when it formally begins its work.
In addition,
the Advance Team acted as a custodian for all information addressed
to the Court. Systems were put in place to allow the Team to take
possession of such material, register it in accordance with international
standards, and store it in a safe place until it can be given to
the Prosecutor when he or she takes up office, which is expected
to be early in 2003.
On October
14, 2002, the Director of the Division of Common Services appointed
by the Assembly of States Parties took his office at the seat of
the Court. Pending to the election of the Registrar, the Director
will perform the functions of the Registrar.
Elections
During its first resumed session held in New York from February 3-7, 2003,
the Assembly of States Parties elected the eighteen judges of the Court for
a term of office of three, six, and nine years. The judges constitute a forum
of international experts that represents the world's principal legal systems.
The March
11, 2003, according to Article 38 of the Rome Statute, the 18 judges
of the Court elected the Presidency . It is composed of Judge Philippe
Kirsch (Canada) as President, Judge Akua Kuenyehia (Ghana) as First
Vice-President, and Judge Elizabeth Odio Benito (Costa Rica) as
Second Vice-President of the Court.
On April 21,
2003, the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the
International
Criminal Court, meeting in its second resumed first session, unanimously
elected Mr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo (Argentina) as the first Chief Prosecutor
of the Court.
On June 24, 2003,
Mr. Bruno Cathala (France) was elected Registrar of the International
Criminal Court by an absolute majority of the judges meeting in
plenary session. He will hold office for a term of five years.
Relationship with United Nations
The International Criminal Court is an independent international organization
that is run internally. It works together with, but not for, the United Nations. The
relationship with the
UN is governed by an agreement that has been approved
by the Assembly of States Parties during its first Session held
in New York from
September 3-10, 2002. On October 4, 2004, this Negotiated
Relationship Agreement between the International Criminal Court and the United
Nations has
been concluded
by the President of the Court on its behalf.
