INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT ‘ELECTS’ PROSECUTOR

UNITED NATIONS, April 23, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) – On Monday, Luis Moreno Ocampo of Argentina was officially ‘elected’ as Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC).  A press release from the United Nations on the election notes that the election of Ocampo was unanimous with 78 members voting.  However, the release fails to mention that Ocampo was the only candidate for the position.  LifeSite reported on March 24 that Ocampo had been selected to be prosecutor in a secret meeting of the ICC’s steering committee.  The term of office of the newly elected Prosecutor will commence on June 16, 2003. Ocampo will head the Office of the Prosecutor, which acts independently as a separate organ of the Court.  The mandate of the Office is to conduct investigations and prosecutions of crimes that fall within the Court’s jurisdiction.  The Prosecutor may start an investigation upon a referral by a State Party, or a referral by the Security Council acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.  The Prosecutor may also begin an investigation of his own accord after receiving information on such crimes from other sources and after a preliminary examination of the material and an examination and authorization by the Pre-Trial Chamber.  See the UN press release:  https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/L3035.doc.htm   See related LifeSite coverage:  THREE TOP INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT JUDGES LINKED TO ABORTION MOVEMENT https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/mar/03031201.html LEAD CANDIDATE SELECTED FOR INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT PROSECUTOR https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/mar/03032401.html