On invitation of Prosecutor Hassan Bubacar Jallow, the General Counsel of the IAP, Ms. Elizabeth Howe, visited ICTR today.

IAP is a non-governmental, non-political organization and the only global association of prosecutors. It numbers over 138 organizational members and 800 individual members representing every region in the world. The IAP was established in June 1995 at the United Nations Offices in Vienna and was formally inaugurated in September 1996, at its first General Meeting in Budapest. The main impetus leading to its creation was the rapid growth in serious transnational crime; particularly drug trafficking, money laundering and fraud. The need was perceived for a greater international co-operation between prosecutors and for greater speed and efficiency in mutual assistance, asset tracking and other co-operative measures. 

This event occurred five months after the IAP conferred a Special Achievement Award on the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of  the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (UNICTR)  in recognition, among other things, of the significant and important work that the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICTR has  accomplished in the fight against impunity for the most serious crimes and for taking the initiative to establish a manual of best practices  as a useful guide for national and international prosecutors around the world who may be engaged in the prosecution of international crimes.

The day Programme included meeting with Prosecutor Jallow, together with the Senior Management of the OTP-ICTR and OTP-MICT, and the Chief of the Information and Evidence Support Section of the OTP-ICTR, the representatives of the Registrar of ICTR, the Chief of Security of ICTR as well as a visit at United Nations Detention Facilities.     

The visit took place in a spirit of courtesy and mutual respect and both parties agreed to further intensify their cooperation.