20 Jul 2012

ICJ / HISSENE HABRE

The International Court of Justice ruled today (20 July) that Senegal must immediately prosecute former Chadian president Hissène Habré, or else extradite him. CH UNTV

Posted at: July 20, 2012 2:32 pm

Duration: 01:56

Available in: SD

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STORY: ICJ / HISSENE HABRE
TRT: 1.56 
SOURCE: ICJ
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 20 JULY 2012, THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide shot, Japanese Room of the Peace Palace with ICJ Judges sitting
2. Close up, nameplate of Respondent State (Senegal)
3. Med shot, front row of members of the delegation of Respondent State (Senegal)
4. SOUNDBITE (French) Peter Tomka, President of the International Court of Justice:
« Unanimously, finds that the Republic of Senegal must, without further delay, submit the case of Mr. Hissène Habré to its competent authorities for the purpose of prosecution, if it does not extradite him. »
5. Close up, nameplate of Applicant State (Belgium)
6. Wide shot, front row of members of the delegation of Applicant State (Belgium)
7. SOUNDBITE (French) Peter Tomka, President of the International Court of Justice:
«By fourteen votes to two, finds that the Republic of Senegal, by failing to make immediately a preliminary inquiry into the facts relating to the crimes allegedly committed by Mr. Hissène Habré, has breached its obligation under Article 6, paragraph 2, of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment of 10 December 1984. »
8. Med shot, audience
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Philippe Couvreur, Registrar of the International Court of Justice:
« By fourteen votes to two, finds that the Republic of Senegal, by failing to submit the case of Mr. Hissène Habré to its competent authorities for the purpose of prosecution, has breached its obligation under Article 7, paragraph 1, of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment of 10 December 1984. »
9. Med shot, audience
10. Wide shot, ICJ Judges leaving the Japanese Room of the Peace Palace at the end of the session, doors closing

STORYLINE:

The International Court of Justice ruled today (20 July) that Senegal must immediately prosecute former Chadian president Hissène Habré, or else extradite him.

Habré is accused of having thousands of political opponents tortured and killed during his reign from 1982 to 1990. He has exiled in Senegal for the last 22 years.

Belgium instituted proceedings at the International Court of Justice against Senegal in 2009 on the grounds that a dispute existed between the two countries regarding Senegal's compliance with its obligation to prosecute Habré or extradite him to Belgium for the purposes of criminal proceedings.

In the judgment delivered today, the Court found that Senegal had breached its obligations under the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment by failing to make immediately a preliminary inquiry into the facts relating to the crimes allegedly committed by Habré, and by failing to submit his case to its competent authorities for the purpose of prosecution.