The President of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Judge Vagn Joensen, issued a statement today expressing deep concern over the continued detention of staff members of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Libya: 

“I join President Song in urging the immediate release of the ICC staff members who have now been detained in Libya for more than one week. This deplorable situation affecting our sister institution is wholly unacceptable – immunity of staff on official mission of an international court is of paramount importance to that court’s ability to properly function. I stand ready to assist in any way that may be requested in order to help ensure the safe return of the detained ICC staff members.”

The four ICC staff members, who were on an official mission ordered by an ICC Pre-Trial Chamber, have been detained in Libya since 7 June 2012.