Aug 7 (Reuters) - As debate rages over war crimes charges against Sudanese leader Omar Hassan al-Bashir, efforts to punish those responsible for Rwanda's 1994 genocide have raised big questions over the role of international courts. Here are some key facts about the tribunal for Rwanda: * The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) was established in Nov. 1994 by the United Nations following Security Council resolution 955. * Its mandate is to prosecute those responsible for genocide and other serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in Rwanda between Jan. 1 1994 and Dec. 31 1994. * It may also prosecute Rwandans responsible for genocide and other such violations of international law committed in neighbouring states during the same period. * The ICTR is made up of three independent structures: the Trial Chambers, Prosecution and Registry. * First suspect arrived at Arusha detention centre in May 1996 and the first ICTR trial began in Jan 1997. * The ICTR submitted its Completion Strategy to U.N. headquarters in July 2003. * To date it has given judgments in 32 cases, including five acquittals, and has also issued rulings in another two cases that have pending appeals. * The court says 13 "most wanted" fugitives remain at large.
A survivor places a flower on the memorial wall during a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the bombing of the U.S. embassy in Nairobi August 7, 2008. U.S. embassies in ...
International Humanitarian Law
