Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (The Gambia v. Myanmar) - Extension of the time-limits for the filing of the initial pleadings

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
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Press Release
Unofficial
No. 2020/14
26 May 2020
Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (The Gambia v. Myanmar) Extension of the time-limits for the filing of the initial pleadings
THE HAGUE, 26 May 2020. By an Order dated 18 May 2020, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, decided, further to the request of The Gambia, to extend from 23 July 2020 to 23 October 2020 and from 25 January 2021 to 23 July 2021 the respective time-limits for the filing of the Memorial of the Republic of The Gambia and the Counter-Memorial of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (The Gambia v. Myanmar).
By a letter dated 24 April 2020, the Agent of The Gambia requested the Court to grant at least a three-month extension for the filing of the Memorial, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that “the principle of equality of arms would entitle Myanmar to a similar extension of time for filing its Counter-Memorial”.
By a letter dated 28 April 2020, the Alternate Agent of Myanmar indicated that, although his Government was of the opinion that the COVID-19 pandemic did not appear to constitute in and of itself a sufficient justification for The Gambia’s request, it took no position on that request and considered that it would be for the Court “to decide whether The Gambia ha[d] established a sufficient justification for an extension of time”.
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History of the proceedings
The history of the proceedings can be found in press releases Nos. 2019/47, 2019/49, 2019/54, 2020/3 and 2020/4, available on the Court’s website (www.icj-cij.org).
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The full text of the Order is available on the Court’s website under the heading “Cases”.
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Note: The Court’s press releases are prepared by its Registry for information purposes only and do not constitute official documents.
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The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It was established by the United Nations Charter in June 1945 and began its activities in April 1946. The Court is composed of 15 judges elected for a nine-year term by the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations. The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands). The Court has a twofold role: first, to settle, in accordance with international law, through judgments which have binding force and are without appeal for the parties concerned, legal disputes submitted to it by States; and, second, to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by duly authorized United Nations organs and agencies of the system.
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