The Bureau
of the Preparatory Commission, elected at its 1st and 2nd meetings, on 16
and 22 February 1999, continued its work with the following composition:
Chairperson: Mr. Philippe Kirsch (Canada)The coordinators, designated by the Chairperson, in consultation with the Bureau, at the first session of the Preparatory Commission, continued their work also during the fourth session of the Preparatory Commission.Vice-Chairpersons: Mr. George Winston Mckenzie (Trinidad and Tobago), Mr. Medard Rwelamira (South Africa), and Mr. Muhammed Sacirbey (Bosnia and Hercegovina)
Rapporteur: Mr. Salah Suheimat (Jordan)
The Preparatory Commission
proceeded with its work on the basis of its agenda (PCNICC/1999/L.1) adopted
on 16 February 1999.
The
Preparatory Commission had before it the Proceedings
of the Preparatory Commission for the International Criminal Court at its
first, second and third sessions (16-26 February, 26 July-13 August and 29
November - 17 December 1999), including
the first reading of the
Rules
of Procedure and Evidence and
the
Elements
of Crimes (PCNICC/1999/L.5/Rev.1,
Add.1
and Add.2)
- (other languages)
Taking account of the priorities set forth by resolution F of the Conference, the Preparatory Commission agreed on a work plan for the March session, focusing on two essential instruments necessary for the functioning of the Court: the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, and the Elements of Crimes. With respect to the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, the Preparatory Commission concentrated on such rules pertaining to the following parts of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court: Part 2 (Jurisdiction, Admissibility and Applicable Law); Part 4 (Composition and Administration of the Court); Part 5 (Investigation and Prosecution); Part 6 (The Trial); Part 8 (Appeal and Revision); Part 9 (International Cooperation and Judicial Assistance); and Part 10 (Enforcement). With regard to the Elements of Crimes, the Preparatory Commission concentrated on the elements of the crime of genocide and of war crimes. The Commission also held a number of meetings and consultations with respect to the crime of aggression.
At its 14th meeting, on 20 March 2000, the Preparatory Commission was addressed by Judge Richard George May of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.
Mr. Olara Otunnu, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict, addressed the Preparatory Commission at its 16th meeting, held on 31 March 2000. Mr. Otunnu thanked the members of the Commission for the serious manner in which they had considered and incorporated children’s rights concerns into the draft texts of the rules of procedure and evidence. He also thanked the Chairman of the Preparatory Commission for his leadership, the Italian government for its generosity in sponsoring the intersessional meeting held at Siracusa in February 2000, at which children’s rights in armed conflict concerns were addressed by experts and delegates, and Prof. Cherif Bassiouni for his role in hosting the intersessional meeting. He also expressed his gratitude to the members of the Commission for considering the document produced at the Siracusa intersessional meeting, as well as the Non-governmental Organizations which had been instrumental in ensuring that the rights of child victims and witnesses are protected within ICC proceedings.
The Preparatory Commission took note of the informal inter-sessional meeting hosted by the Government of Italy and the International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences in Siracusa, Italy, from 31 January to 6 February 2000.
