Order of 17 December 2024

17 DECEMBER 2024
ORDER
APPLICATION OF THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT (CANADA AND THE NETHERLANDS v. SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC)
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APPLICATION DE LA CONVENTION CONTRE LA TORTURE ET AUTRES PEINES OU TRAITEMENTS CRUELS, INHUMAINS OU DÉGRADANTS (CANADA ET PAYS-BAS c. RÉPUBLIQUE ARABE SYRIENNE)
17 DÉCEMBRE 2024
ORDONNANCE
INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
YEAR 2024
2024
17 December
General List
No. 188
17 December 2024
APPLICATION OF THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT
(CANADA AND THE NETHERLANDS v. SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC)
ORDER
Present: President SALAM; Vice-President SEBUTINDE; Judges ABRAHAM, YUSUF, XUE, BHANDARI, IWASAWA, NOLTE, CHARLESWORTH, BRANT, GÓMEZ ROBLEDO, CLEVELAND; Registrar GAUTIER.
The International Court of Justice,
Composed as above,
After deliberation,
Having regard to Article 48 of the Statute of the Court and Article 44, paragraph 3, of the Rules of Court,
Having regard to the Application filed in the Registry of the Court on 8 June 2023, whereby Canada and the Kingdom of the Netherlands (hereinafter the “applicant States”) instituted proceedings against the Syrian Arab Republic (hereinafter “Syria”) concerning alleged violations of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,
Having regard to the Order dated 1 February 2024, whereby the Court fixed 3 February 2025 and 3 February 2026 as the respective time-limits for the filing of the Memorial of the applicant States and the Counter-Memorial of Syria;
Whereas, by a letter dated 12 December 2024 and received in the Registry on 13 December 2024, the Agents of the applicant States requested an extension of the time-limit for the filing of the
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Memorial, submitting that such an extension was necessary as a consequence of the recent and unforeseen developments in Syria, including a change in government and the emergence of new evidence;
Whereas, on receipt of that letter, the Registrar transmitted a copy thereof to Syria, pursuant to Article 44, paragraph 3, of the Rules of Court;
Whereas, by a letter dated 16 December 2024, the Agent of Syria informed the Court that, in light of the recent developments in Syria, including a change of government, he was unable to provide views on the Applicants’ request within the time-limit fixed for that purpose (i.e. by 16 December 2024 at 6 p.m.), and he asked for additional time to consult with the new government;
Taking into account the views of the Parties,
Extends to 3 June 2025 the time-limit for the filing of the Memorial of Canada and the Kingdom of the Netherlands;
Extends to 5 October 2026 the time-limit for the filing of the Counter-Memorial of the Syrian Arab Republic;
Reserves the subsequent procedure for further decision.
Done in English and in French, the English text being authoritative, at the Peace Palace, The Hague, this seventeenth day of December, two thousand and twenty-four, in four copies, one of which will be placed in the archives of the Court and the others transmitted to the Governments of Canada and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic, respectively.
(Signed) Nawaf SALAM,
President.
(Signed) Philippe GAUTIER,
Registrar.
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