The Tribunal in practice

The PPT receives a request from movements, associations, individuals and communities to activate an investigative procedure.

The PPT verifies the applicant’s decision-making and operational autonomy from external political and economic actors. It also assesses the reliability of the request and conformity with the mandate and functions set out in its Statute.

The PPT opens the pre-trial phase, during which it conducts independent investigations into the matters on which it is called upon to render a judgment or advisory opinion. It promptly informs the accused parties of the request received with an invitation to present their defence. It convenes the panel of judges’ representatives to appear at the public session, the timing and manner of which is defined in agreement with the requesting organizations.

For the purposes of the public session, the requesting organization documents the cases and selects the witnesses according to a schedule discussed with the PPT General Secretariat. Once the session is completed, and the documentation collected has been examined, the oral testimonies and the arguments presented by the defence, the Tribunal’s panel of judges presents its judgment or advisory opinion.

The process concludes with the sending of the judgment to the parties concerned and relevant international agencies.