Spain to become the Seventh State to sign an Agreement on the Enforcement of Sentences.

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Spain to become the Seventh State to sign an Agreement on the Enforcement of Sentences

Today, 28 March 2000, His Excellency Mr. José María Pons Irazazábal, the Ambassador of Spain to the Netherlands, and Ms. Dorothee de Sampayo Garrido-Nijgh, Registrar of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) signed an Agreement on the enforcement of sentences handed down by the Tribunal.

Spain becomes the seventh United Nations Member State to enter into such an Agreement, after Italy (signed on 6 February 1997), Finland (7 May 1997), Norway (24 April 1998), Sweden (signed on 23 February 1999), Austria (signed on 23 July 1999) and France (signed on 25 February 2000).

The agreement differs from other agreements signed by states with the United Nations on the enforcement of sentences in that it provides for inspections of the conditions of detention and treatment of the convicted persons by a Parity Commission instead of by the ICRC. In addition, it provides that Spain will only consider the enforcement of sentences pronounced by the International Tribunal where the duration of the sentence imposed does not exceed the highest maximum sentence for any crime under Spanish law (currently 30 years).

The agreement will enter into force upon receipt of notification by Spain that the necessary national legal requirements have been met. 

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International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
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