1. The board of directors of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has decided on July 6 (New York local time) to recommend former Vice-President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) Kwon O-gon as the next President of the Assembly of States Parties of the ICC for a three-year term, to be elected at the 16th meeting of the Assembly of States Parties (December 4-14, 2017, New York).

o According to the decision of the board of directors, former Vice-President of the ICTY Kwon O-gon will begin his term as President on December 14, 2017, after being elected by the Assembly of States Parties.

o He is one of the most distinguished experts in criminal law, who served as a judge for 22 years in the ROK and for 15 years from 2001 to 2016 at the ICTY (ICTY Vice-President from 2008 to 2011).

2. He will chair meetings of the Assembly of States Parties, attended by 124 States Parties and civic groups, and play a central role in promoting international criminal justice, including outreach activities to strengthen the ICC’s universality.

3. The ICC is the first permanent international criminal court. The ROK played a leading role in establishing the ICC, and has continuously contributed to the ICC’s activities, including through former ICC President Song Sang-hyun and ICC Judge Chung Chang-ho.

o His assumption of the presidency ahead of the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute of the ICC (July 17, 2018) is expected to contribute to safeguarding the rule of law and promoting human rights in the international community, expanding the ROK’s diplomatic horizons, and further enhancing the ROK’s status in the area of international criminal law.


* unofficial translation