Legal Japanese judge named ICC president

[thomas]

Akane Tomoko, a judge at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, was elected as the first Japanese president of the ICC to lead the tribunal during a crucial period as allegations of war crimes in Ukraine and Gaza continued to mount. The ICC prosecutes individuals accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity and other violations of international law. A native of Aichi Prefecture , Akane started her career in Japan as a prosecutor in 1982. She has been serving as a judge at the ICC since 2018.

The appointments came as the ICC has issued arrest warrants for Russian individuals, including President Vladimir Putin, over alleged war crimes in Ukraine related to Moscow's aggression against Kyiv since February 2022. Akane was involved in the ICC's decision to grant an arrest warrant for Putin in March last year over his alleged involvement in the forcible deportation of Ukrainian children. In response, Russia has put her on its wanted list. "At this challenging time for the Court, stable, collaborative and unified leadership is required," Akane was quoted by the ICC as saying.

Amid turbulent times, ICC elects 1st Japanese president | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

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International Criminal Court picks Japan's Akane as new head

67-year-old to become first Japanese to lead Hague-based body

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