NEWS RELEASES
CANADIAN ELECTED JUDGE OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
February 6, 2003 (2:30 p.m. EST) No. 17
CANADIAN ELECTED JUDGE OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham today welcomed the election of Ambassador Philippe Kirsch as a
judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC) at United Nations Headquarters in New York City. He
was elected from among 43 candidates for one of 18 available positions.
"I am extremely pleased that Philippe Kirsch has been elected to the International Criminal Court," said
Minister Graham. "Canada played a central role in the efforts to establish the Court. I am convinced that
Ambassador Kirsch will make a significant contribution to the Court's precedent-setting work."
Ambassador Kirsch is a leading expert on the ICC, having served as chair of the main negotiating
committee at the 1998 Rome Diplomatic Conference, which adopted the ICC's Statute. He also chaired
the 1999-2002 Preparatory Commission, which drafted documents such as the ICC's Rules of Procedure
and Evidence. He has extensive experience in international humanitarian and criminal law.
Ambassador Kirsch is currently serving as Canada's ambassador to Sweden.
The Rome Statute of the ICC entered into force on July 1, 2002, and 88 states have ratified the Statute
to date. Steps are currently being taken to establish the Court, which is expected to be operational by the
end of 2003. The ICC has jurisdiction to try individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity and war
crimes, where national legal systems are unable or unwilling to do so.
Ambassador Kirsch's curriculum vitae is available at http://www.un.org/law/icc under "nominations."
Further information on the ICC is available on the Canada and the ICC Web site at
http://www.icc.gc.ca.
- 30 -
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Isabelle Savard
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
| 
