ICC - The Solemn Undertaking of the Prosecutor

The Solemn Undertaking of the Prosecutor

ICC-OTP-20030613-14

The swearing in of the first Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Mr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo will take place during a public session of the Court. The Ceremony, to be held at the Great Hall of Justice of the Peace Palace on 16 June 2003, will be presided by Judge Philippe Kirsch and witnessed by the other judges of the Court.

The President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein, will administer the solemn undertaking by the Prosecutor.

The President of the ICC, the Prosecutor, the President of the Assembly of States Parties, and a representative of the defence will deliver statements.

Other keynote speakers will be Professor Benjamin Ferencz, Prosecutor of the Nuremberg Tribunal; Mr. William R. Pace Convenor of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court; and Mrs. Billon Ung Boun-Hor, Secretary General of the Comité des victimes des Khmers rouges.

The programme including activities involving the media, is the following:

11:30 – 12:00
Registration of media representatives in the Academy Building of the Peace Palace.

12:00 – 13:00
Press briefing conducted by the Coalition for the International Criminal Court.
- Who is the Prosecutor of the ICC and what is the importance of his role?
- What are the next steps in the development of the ICC?
- What are the key challenges facing the ICC?

William R. Pace, Convenor NGO Coalition for the ICC Richard Dicker, Director International Justice Program, Human Rights Watch Jeanne Sulzer, International Justice Programme Officer, Fédération internationale des droits de l’Homme

13:00 – 14:00
Lunch Break

14:00
Beginning of the Ceremony
The significance of the ceremony

14:15
Entrance of the Judges of the International Criminal Court

14:20
Opening of the session of the International Criminal Court by President Philippe Kirsch

Report on the election of the Prosecutor
Mr. Bruno Cathala
Director of Common Services

Statement by H.R.H. Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan
President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

Statement by H.E. Judge Philippe Kirsch
President of the International Criminal Court

Solemn undertaking of Mr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo

Statement by a representative of the defence

Statement by Professor Benjamin Ferencz
Former prosecutor

Statement by Mr. William R. Pace
Convenor of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court

Statement by Mrs. Billon Ung Boun-Hor Secretary General of the Comité des victimes des Khmers rouges

Statement by Mr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo

16:00
Closing of the session of the International Criminal Court

17:00
ICC Press Conference

President of the ICC, Judge Philippe Kirsch;
Chief Prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo;
President of the Assembly of States Parties of the ICC Statute, Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein

The International Criminal Court is the first permanent institution of international criminal justice, with jurisdiction to try individuals for the most serious crimes known to humanity as a whole – genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.

Source: Office of the Prosecutor