India has called for an efficient, orderly and time-bound transition of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) as the body moves towards completing its mandate, while insisting that judicial independence and victims' rights must not be compromised.

Source: ANI via LatestLY

Delivering India's national statement at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Wednesday, Congress MP Manish Tewari acknowledged the work of IRMCT President Judge Graciela Gatti Santana and the progress made during the reporting period, India's Permanent Mission to the UN said in a post on X cited by ANI.

"We recognise the Mechanism's contribution to the fight against impunity, and reiterate the importance of fulfilling its mandate in accordance with the principles of justice, impartiality, fairness, and due process. Upholding the interests of justice and protecting the rights of victims remains essential," Tewari said, according to ANI.

What the mechanism does

The IRMCT was set up by the UN Security Council in 2010 to take on the unfinished work of the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and for the former Yugoslavia, IANS reported. The Yugoslav tribunal held 111 trials and convicted 90 persons, with one appeal still pending with the IRMCT, while the Rwanda tribunal indicted 86 persons; the IRMCT itself has convicted 61 people after picking up some of those cases, according to IANS.

Source: IANS via IANS Live

Tewari underscored that residual functions such as archive management, protection of victims and witnesses, and assistance to national jurisdictions must be preserved to maintain the legacy of the ad hoc tribunals and ensure continued accountability, both agencies reported.