THE HAGUE (AFP) ― South Korean judge Song Sang-hyun has been re-elected as president of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for another three-year term, the court announced on Sunday.
Song has been the Hague-based world war crimes court’s president since March 2009 and will now serve until 2015.
Botswanan judge Sanji Mmasenono Monageng and judge Cuno Tarfusser of Italy were also elected from its 18 judges as first and second vice presidents respectively, the ICC said in a statement.
Song Sang-hyun
“It is an honor to serve an institution with such an important mandate, and I pledge to devote myself fully to ensuring its effective functioning, efficiency and independence,” Song said after the elections.
The ICC’s Presidency coordinates its various organs and is responsible for the court’s administration, with the exception of the Prosecutor’s Office.
The world’s only independent, permanent tribunal with the jurisdiction to try genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes opened its doors in the Dutch city in 2003.
Judges are to hand down its first judgement on Wednesday in the case of Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga, who is accused of recruiting child soldiers under 15 years to fight in his rebel army.
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
