NEW YORK, Dec. 14, 2011—The International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) welcomes the election of Fatou Bensouda of Gambia as the next prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Ms. Bensouda was unanimously elected December 12 by the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) during its 10th session in New York City, and will be the court's second prosecutor, commencing in June 2012.
“I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Fatou Bensouda for many years and I am pleased she will serve as the next prosecutor of the ICC,” said ICTJ president David Tolbert. “She will provide strong, independent leadership to the Office of the Prosecutor, bringing her considerable legal and diplomatic experience to bear on the difficult issues facing the office. I have no doubt she will serve with great distinction in her new role, and we stand ready to support her as she assumes this extremely important position.”
ICTJ works to support accountability for human rights abuses in countries around the world, including through domestic and international criminal tribunals. Over the past 10 years, ICTJ has enjoyed a fruitful relationship with the ICC and is playing a leading role in efforts to expand the reach of international justice. Our primary focus in this effort is the support for domestic prosecutions of international crimes through the “complementarity principle” of the Rome Statute, which established the ICC.
About ICTJ
The International Center for Transitional Justice works to redress and prevent the most severe violations of human rights by confronting legacies of mass abuse. ICTJ seeks holistic solutions to promote accountability and create just and peaceful societies. For more information, visit www.ictj.org.
Contact
Refik Hodzic (New York) Director, ICTJ Communications Cell: +1 917 975 2305 rhodzic@ictj.org
