ICC - Solemn Undertaking of the ICC Judges Elected in January 2006
Press Release
Solemn Undertaking of the ICC Judges Elected in January 2006
ICC-CPI-20060302-124 English
|
On Friday 10 March 2006, six judges of the International Criminal Court made a solemn undertaking at the seat of the Court in an open session presided over by Judge Philippe Kirsch, President of the Court. The solemn undertaking was witnessed by the President of the Assembly of States Parties, H.E. Ambassador Bruno Stagno Ugarte, in accordance with Rule 5 of the Rules of Procedures and Evidence of the Court.
Ambassador Stagno Ugarte noted that today’s solemn undertaking “marks a renewal of our commitment to avoid the reign of impunity in a world where, for far too long, justice has frequently been denied to those who have been the object of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity”
The six judges were elected for a nine year term in January 2006 by the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute. Five of those elected are currently serving judges. They are Akua KUENYEHIA (Ghana), Sang-hyun SONG (Republic of Korea), Hans Peter KAUL (Germany), Erkki KOURULA (Finland) and Anita UŠACKA (Latvia). Judge Ekaterina TRENDAFILOVA (Bulgaria) who was elected for the first time by the Assembly of States Parties also made a solemn undertaking. The biographies of the new judges are enclosed.
In his closing remarks, Judge Philippe Kirsch stated that ‘’the first duty of these judges, as members of the Plenary Assembly of judges, will be to elect members of the Presidency and appoint judges to Divisions and Chambers ’’. These elections and appointments will take place in a closed plenary session on 11 March 2006.
The six elected judges were joined by the other ICC judges, the Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the Deputy Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and the Registrar Bruno Cathala.
The International Criminal Court has a bench of 18 judges who are nationals of States Parties and persons of high moral character, impartiality and integrity with the qualifications required in their respective countries for appointment to the highest judicial office.
For further information, please contact the ICC Spokesperson Ernest Sagaga on Tel. +31 (0)70 515 8762 / Mob. +31 (0)6 4644 8710