Power and Function of Assembly of States Parties of ICC

Assembly of States Parties of ICC.
Power and Function of Assembly of States Parties of ICC.

Assembly of States Parties of ICC

Assembly of states parties is principal organ of International Criminal Court.

According to Article 112(1) of Rome Statute

An  Assembly  of  States  Parties  to  this  Statute  is  hereby  established.  Each  State Party shall have one representative in the Assembly who may be accompanied by alternates  and  advisers.  Other  States  which  have  signed  this  Statute  or  the  Final Act may be observers in the Assembly.

 

Power and Function of Assembly of States Parties of ICC

According to Article 112(2) of Rome Statute

The Assembly shall:

(a) Consider and adopt, as appropriate, recommendations of the Preparatory Commission;

(b) Provide  management  oversight  to  the  Presidency,  the  Prosecutor  and  the Registrar regarding the administration of the Court;

(c) Consider   the   reports   and   activities   of   the   Bureau   established   under paragraph 3 and take appropriate action in regard thereto;

(d) Consider and decide the budget for the Court;

(e) Decide  whether  to  alter,  in  accordance  with  article  36,  the  number  of judges;

(f) Consider pursuant to article 87, paragraphs 5 and 7, any question relating to non-cooperation;

(g) Perform  any  other  function  consistent  with  this  Statute  or  the  Rules  of Procedure and Evidence.

3.

(a) The   Assembly   shall   have   a   Bureau   consisting   of   a   President,   two Vice-Presidents  and  18  members  elected  by  the  Assembly  for  three-year terms.

(b) The  Bureau  shall  have  a  representative  character,  taking  into  account,  in particular,    equitable    geographical    distribution    and    the    adequate representation of the principal legal systems of the world.

(c) The  Bureau  shall  meet  as  often  as  necessary,  but  at  least  once  a  year.  It shall assist the Assembly in the discharge of its responsibilities.

4. The Assembly may establish such subsidiary bodies as may be necessary, including an independent oversight mechanism for inspection, evaluation and investigation of the Court, in order to enhance its efficiency and economy.

5. The   President   of   the   Court,   the   Prosecutor   and   the   Registrar   or   their representatives may participate, as appropriate, in meetings of the Assembly and of the Bureau.

6. The  Assembly  shall  meet  at  the  seat  of  the  Court  or  at  the  Headquarters  of  the United  Nations  once  a  year  and,  when  circumstances  so  require,  hold  special sessions.  Except  as  otherwise  specified  in  this  Statute,  special  sessions  shall  be convened by the Bureau on its own initiative or at the request of one third of the States Parties.

7. Each State Party shall have one vote. Every effort shall be made to reach decisions by consensus in the Assembly and in the Bureau. If consensus cannot be reached, except as otherwise provided in the Statute:

(a) Decisions  on  matters  of  substance  must  be  approved  by  a  two-thirds majority of those present and voting provided that an absolute majority of States Parties constitutes the quorum for voting;

(b) Decisions  on  matters  of  procedure  shall  be  taken  by  a  simple  majority  of States Parties present and voting.

8. A  State  Party  which  is  in  arrears  in  the  payment  of  its  financial  contributions towards  the  costs  of  the  Court  shall  have  no  vote  in  the  Assembly  and  in  the Bureau   if   the   amount   of   its   arrears   equals   or   exceeds   the   amount   of   the contributions  due  from  it  for  the  preceding  two  full  years.  The  Assembly  may, nevertheless, permit such a State Party to vote in the Assembly and in the Bureau if it is satisfied that the failure to pay is due to conditions beyond the control of the State Party.

9. The Assembly shall adopt its own rules of procedure.

10. The official and working languages of the Assembly shall be those of the General Assembly of the United Nations.