II. MEMBERS AND STAFF OF THE CHAMBER

A. Members of the Chamber

The Human Rights Chamber is composed of fourteen members as provided in Article VII of Annex 6 to the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (attached to this Report as Annex A). Four members were appointed by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and two by the Republika Srpska. The remaining eight members were appointed by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Pursuant to Annex 6, the members appointed by the Council of Europe (the international members) are not citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina or any neighbouring state. The President of the Chamber, Ms. Michèle Picard, a French national, was designated by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe from among the international members. The members appointed are all distinguished lawyers and bring to the Chamber a wide variety of experience in different backgrounds including the judiciary, the academic sphere, private legal practice, administration and politics, and international, criminal and human rights law. A list of the members and their short biographies are attached to this Report as Annex B. 

B. Secretariat of the Chamber

The Secretariat is the full-time staff of the Chamber, based in Sarajevo with an additional office in Banja Luka. At the end of 2000, the Secretariat included 30 staff members in the Sarajevo headquarters and 8 staff members (including 3 security) in the Banja Luka office. A list of the staff of the Secretariat is attached to this Report as Annex C.

The Executive Officer, Registrar and several lawyers are international staff members. All other staff members are nationals of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Chamber has relied almost exclusively on direct funding from individual governments to cover the salaries of international staff. In 2000, the United States and German Governments provided funding for international staff. The Council of Europe seconded a Registrar to the Chamber from the staff of the European Court of Human Rights (the Chamber pays the cost of a replacement lawyer in Strasbourg). During 2000, interns from Germany, Italy and the United States contributed to the work of the Chamber.

The Human Rights Chamber is provided office space by the State of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Presidency Building in Sarajevo. Public hearings are held at the Sarajevo Cantonal Court. The Chamber rents private space for its office in Banja Luka.