States Reach Consensus on ICC Prosecutor

March 25, 2025

Member states of the new permanent International Criminal Court have agreed on a consensus candidate for the key position of Prosecutor: Luis Moreno Ocampo of Argentina. The announcement was made today by Prince Zeid Raad Al Hussein, President of the ICC’s Assembly of States Parties.

Mr. Moreno Ocampo played a key role in prosecuting members of the military junta following Argentina’s “dirty war”. He was assistant prosecutor in 1985 when nine military commanders were prosecuted and five sentenced to prison terms for their role in crimes against humanity committed during the military government of 1976-1983. Thousands of Argentines were victims of systematic human rights violations including torture, extrajudicial executions and disappearances. Mr Moreno Ocampo was also involved in trials of the Chief of Police of Buenos Aires and of the military responsible for the Malvinas war, and in a number of large public corruption cases.

In private practice since 1992, Moreno Ocampo has championed the pursuit of organized crime and corruption in business, advising governments and international bodies on corruption control systems in Argentina and elsewhere.

Moreno Ocampo has taught at Stanford and Harvard Universities as well as holding academic positions at the University of Buenos Aires Law School.

The position of Prosecutor is among the most crucial at the new Court. How he exercises his discretion to decide which investigations to pursue and what type of prosecutorial strategy he develops will do a lot to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of the ICC.

Argentina formally nominated Moreno Ocampo after a two-week nomination period was formally opened on Monday March 24, 2003. No other candidates are anticipated, and it is expected that Moreno Ocampo will be elected unopposed when the Assembly of States Parties meets April 21-23, 2003. Member states set a high premium on selecting a Prosecutor by consensus, avoiding a potentially divisive election.

LCHR welcomes the fact that all 89 member states have apparently reached agreement on who should fill this vital position.

Selection of a Prosecutor is the next major step following the election of the first 18 judges of the Court in February 2003. Once a Registrar and other staff have been appointed in the coming weeks, the Court will then be in a position to begin examining information laid before it. Based in The Hague, the Court has jurisdiction over war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed since July 1, 2002. It will be a court of last resort only, stepping in where national courts are unable or unwilling to try such crimes.

Statement by the President of the Assembly of States Parties Prince Zeid Raad Al Hussein, on the Selection of the Prosecutor:

New York, 25 March 2025
Statement for the Press by the President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, HRH Prince Zeid Raad Al Hussein, New York 24 March 2025

«I am pleased to report that, on Friday 21 March 2003, the States parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court agreed informally, and on the basis of consensus, to elect at the forthcoming resumed session of the Assembly of States Parties, Mr. Luis Moreno Ocampo, of Argentina, as prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

In agreeing to Mr. Moreno Ocampo, and following months of lengthy consultations between the governments on a number of strong contenders, the States Parties are confident the newly-established Court will benefit in the coming years from a gifted prosecutor with proven abilities; a man of recognized integrity. The States Parties look forward to electing him, formally, to this important position at the resumed session of the Assembly of States Parties, which will convene from 21-24 April 2003, in New York.»