Philippe Kirsch Re-Elected ICC President

The ICC has re-elected Philippe Kirsch of Canada to a new three-year term as president. Akua Kuenyehia of Ghana was re-elected as first vice-president and Judge Rene Blattmann of Bolivia was elected second-vice president.

Here is Judge Kirsch’s official ICC bio:

Judge Kirsch is member of the Bar of the Province of Quebec and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1988. He has extensive experience in the establishment of the International Criminal Court, international humanitarian law, international criminal law and public international law.

In 1998, Judge Kirsch served as Chairman of the Committee of the Whole of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court (the Rome Conference). He was also Chairman of the Preparatory Commission for the International Criminal Court (1999 – 2002). Judge Kirsch’s experience in international humanitarian law includes serving as Chairman of: the Drafting Committee of the International Conference on the Protection of War Victims (1993), the Drafting Committee at the 26th and 27th International Conferences of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent (1995, 1999) and related meetings. He also chaired the Canadian National Committee on Humanitarian Law (1998 – 1999) and was a member of the Group of International Advisers to the International Committee of the Red Cross (2000 – 2003).

Judge Kirsch has extensive experience in the development of international criminal law, with particular regard to issues related to terrorism. He served as Chairman of the United Nations Ad Hoc Committee for the Suppression of Acts of Terrorism (1997-1999) and as Chairman or President of international conferences addressing terrorism-related issues such as the suppression of unlawful acts in the contexts of international civil aviation and maritime navigation. He was also Chairman of the United Nations Ad Hoc Committee that elaborated the International Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel (1993-1994). Judge Kirsch appeared twice as an Agent before the International Court of Justice. He has also participated in international arbitrations and was a Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (1995-1999). He has written extensively on the International Criminal Court and other international legal issues.