Ceremony for the solemn undertaking of the Prosecutor

On Monday, 16 June 2003, the Prosecutor-elect, Mr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo will pledge his solemn undertaking*, and formally take office as the first Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. For this important and memorable occasion, the International Criminal Court will convene in open session in the Great Hall of Justice of the Peace Palace, in The Hague.

During the course of the ceremony, the Prosecutor will pledge to perform his duties and exercise his powers honourably, faithfully, impartially and conscientiously, and to respect the confidentiality of investigations and prosecutions.

The solemn undertaking of the Prosecutor will be witnesses by the President of the Assembly of States Parties, H.R.H. Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein of Jordan, recognising that the Prosecutor-elect was selected unanimously by the States Parties to the Statute of the Court to head the independent Office of the Prosecutor.

The ceremony takes the form of a symbolic audience of the Court, convening representatives of the principal participants in any trial before the Court – the victims and witnesses, the prosecution and defence, and the judges themselves – each speaking in turn to address the significance of the Court as a first permanent institution of international criminal justice, the weighty responsibilities incumbent upon the Prosecutor, the crucial role of the defence, and the central place of victims and witnesses of the most serious international crimes in the international judicial process – a process that seeks to establish the truth and to render justice for all involved.

The ceremony will be followed by a public hearing convened by the Prosecutor. More information is available here.

* "I solemnly undertake that I will perform my duties and exercise my powers as Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court honourably, faithfully, impartially and conscientiously, and that I will respect the confidentiality of investigations and prosecutions." (Rule 5(b): Rules of Procedure and Evidence)