The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court is the officer of the International Criminal Court (ICC), whose duties include the investigation and prosecution of the crimes under the jurisdiction of the ICC, namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes as well as the crime of aggression. The prosecutor heads the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP).
The position of Prosecutor of the ICC is currently vacant following the removal of Karim Ahmad Khan, KC, who served as Prosecutor from 16 June 2021 until 24 July 2026, when he was sacked by the Assembly of States Parties following a vote."ICC members dismiss prosecutor Karim Khan, diplomatic sources say", 24 July 2026, Reuters, retrieved 24 July 2026.
List of prosecutors of the International Criminal Court
+Prosecutors of the International Criminal Court Name Portrait Country Deputies Elected Term commenced Term endMoreno OcampoLuis Moreno Ocampo Fatou BensoudaSerge Brammertz 2003-04-2121 April 2003 2003-06-1616 June 2003 2012-06-1515 June 2012BensoudaFatou Bensouda James Stewart 2011-12-1212 December 2011 2012-06-1616 June 2012 2021-06-1515 June 2021Khan Karim Ahmad Khan, KC Mame Mandiaye Niang Nazhat Shameem Khan 2021-02-1212 February 2021 2021-06-1616 June 2021 2026-07-2424 July 2026
Elections of the prosecutor
The first election of the prosecutor took place on 21 April 2003, during the second resumption of the first session of the Assembly of States Parties in New York. The only official candidate was Luis Moreno Ocampo. Moreno Ocampo was elected with 78 votes with no votes against and no abstentions. Nine states parties did not vote.
The second election of the prosecutor took place during the tenth session of the Assembly of States Parties in New York on 12 December 2011. A Search Committee was established which received 52 communications regarding a new prosecutor. In the end, the states parties achieved consensus to elect the then-deputy prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, as the new prosecutor.Consensus candidate for next ICC Prosecutor . ICC press release. 1 December 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2011. She was elected by acclamation.
The third election of the prosecutor took place during the second resumed nineteenth session of the Assembly of States Parties in New York on 12 February 2021. In its first ballot, Karim Ahmad Khan, QC received 59 votes, Fergal Gaynor (Ireland) 47, Carlos Castresana Fernández (Spain) 12, and Francesco Lo Voi (Italy) 5. In its second ballot, Karim Khan was elected with 72 votes, surpassing the majority requirement of 62. Fergal Gaynor received 42 votes, Carlos Castresana Fernández 5, and Francesco Lo Voi 3.British human rights lawyer elected chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court
References