Cooperation under procedures of national law

New Zealand

International Crimes and International Criminal Court Act 2000

PART 3 - GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE

27.
Execution of requests—

(1)If the ICC makes a request for assistance, the request must be dealt with in accordance with the relevant procedure under the law of New Zealand (as provided in this Act).

(2)If the request for assistance specifies that it should be executed in a particular manner that is not prohibited by New Zealand law or by using a particular procedure that is not prohibited by New Zealand law, the Attorney-General or the Minister, as the case may be, must use his or her best endeavours to ensure that the request is executed in that manner or using that procedure, as the case may be.

Cf Statute, articles 88, 99(1)

PART 5 - DOMESTIC PROCEDURES FOR OTHER TYPES OF CO-OPERATION

Taking evidence and producing documents

85.
Protection of witnesses—

(1)The applicable law with respect to compelling a person to appear before Judge under section 83 or section 84 and to give evidence or answer questions, or to produce documents or other articles, is the law specified in subsection (2); and that law applies with any necessary modifications.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1), the applicable law is the law of New Zealand that applies to the giving of evidence or the answering of questions or the production of documents or other articles on the hearing of a charge against a person for an offence against the law of New Zealand.


PART 5 - DOMESTIC PROCEDURES FOR OTHER TYPES OF CO-OPERATION

Restrictions on provision of assistance

116.
Procedure if execution of assistance precluded under New Zealand law—

If the execution of a particular measure of assistance specified in a request to which this Part applies is prohibited in New Zealand, despite any other provision in this Part, the Attorney-General must—

(a)consider whether the assistance can be provided in another manner or subject to conditions; and

(b)promptly consult with the ICC in order to resolve the matter.

Cf Statute, article 93(3)

Rome Statute

Article 88 Availability of procedures under national law

States Parties shall ensure that there are procedures available under their national law for all of the forms of cooperation which are specified under this Part.

Article 89 Surrender of persons to the Court

1. The Court may transmit a request for the arrest and surrender of a person, together with the material supporting the request outlined in article 91, to any State on the territory of which that person may be found and shall request the cooperation of that State in the arrest and surrender of such a person. States Parties shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Part and the procedure under their national law, comply with requests for arrest and surrender.

Article 93 Other forms of cooperation

1. States Parties shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Part and under procedures of national law, comply with requests by the Court to provide the following assistance in relation to investigations or prosecutions:

(a) The identification and whereabouts of persons or the location of items;

(b) The taking of evidence, including testimony under oath, and the production of evidence, including expert opinions and reports necessary to the Court;

(c) The questioning of any person being investigated or prosecuted;

(d) The service of documents, including judicial documents;

(e) Facilitating the voluntary appearance of persons as witnesses or experts before the Court;

(f) The temporary transfer of persons as provided in paragraph 7;

(g) The examination of places or sites, including the exhumation and examination of grave sites;

(h) The execution of searches and seizures;

(i) The provision of records and documents, including official records and documents;

(j) The protection of victims and witnesses and the preservation of evidence;

(k) The identification, tracing and freezing or seizure of proceeds, property and assets and instrumentalities of crimes for the purpose of eventual forfeiture, without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties; and

(l) Any other type of assistance which is not prohibited by the law of the requested State, with a view to facilitating the investigation and prosecution of crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court.

Article 99 Execution of requests under articles 93 and 96

1. Requests for assistance shall be executed in accordance with the relevant procedure under the law of the requested State and, unless prohibited by such law, in the manner specified in the request, including following any procedure outlined therein or permitting persons specified in the request to be present at and assist in the execution process.