Judge Song re-elected ICC president

Judge Sang-Hyun Song has been re-elected President of the International Criminal Court (ICC)for 2012-2015. The Korean judge was elected on Sunday as President of the Court for a three-year term with immediate effect. Tswana Judge Sanji Mmasenono Monageng and Itlaian Judge Cuno Tarfusser were elected First and Second Vice-President respectively. “I am humbled by the trust that my fellow judges have placed in me by re-electing me as President of the Court. It is an honour to serve an institution with such an important mandate, and I pledge to devote myself fully to ensuring its effective functioning, efficiency and independence,” President Song stated following the election. “I wish to express my deep appreciation of the outstanding contribution that Judge Diarra and Judge Kaul have made as Vice-Presidents during the last three years, and I look forward to working together with Vice-President Monageng and Vice-President Tarfusser, and indeed all the judges in the future.” The Presidency – consisting of the President and the two Vice-Presidents – plays a key role in providing strategic leadership to the ICC as a whole. The Presidency coordinates with the other organs and seeks the concurrence of the Prosecutor on matters of mutual concern. In accordance with the Rome Statute, the ICC’s governing treaty, the Presidency is responsible for the proper administration of the Court, with the exception of the Office of the Prosecutor. It oversees the activities of the Registry and provides input into a broad range of administrative policies affecting the Court’s overall functioning. Furthermore it conducts judicial review of certain decisions of the Registrar and concludes Court-wide cooperation agreements with states and international organisations.