Fatou Bensouda
| Fatou Bensouda | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 15 June 2012 | |
| President | Song Sang-Hyun |
| Deputy | James Stewart |
| Preceded by | Luis Moreno Ocampo |
| Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court | |
| In office 8 September 2004 – 15 June 2012 | |
| President | Philippe Kirsch Sang-hyun Song |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | James Stewart |
| Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Gambia | |
| In office 1998–2000 | |
| President | Yahya Jammeh |
| Preceded by | Hawa Sisay-Sabally |
| Succeeded by | Pap Cheyassin Secka |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 31 January 1961 Banjul, Gambia |
| Alma mater | University of Ife Nigerian Law School International Maritime Law Institute |
| Religion | Islam[1] |
Fatou B. Bensouda (born 31 January 1961) is a Gambian lawyer, former government civil servant, international criminal law prosecutor and legal adviser. She has been the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor since June 2012, after having served as a Deputy Prosecutor in charge of the Prosecutions Division of the ICC since 2004.[2] She has held positions of Legal Adviser and Trial Attorney at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).[3]
Early life and education
Bensouda was born in Banjul, the Gambia. She attended primary and secondary school in the Gambia before leaving for Nigeria where she graduated from the University of IFE with an Bachelor of Laws (Hons) degree. She then obtained her Barrister-at-Law (BL) professional qualification from the Nigeria Law School. After acquiring a Master of Laws from the International Maritime Law Institute in Malta, she became the Gambia’s first expert in international maritime law and the law of the sea.
Bensouda is married to a Gambian–Moroccan businessman, Phillip Bensouda,[4] and they have three children, one of whom is adopted.[5]
International criminal prosecutor and legal adviser
Bensouda’s international career as a non-government civil servant formally began at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, where she worked as a Legal Adviser and Trial Attorney before rising to the position of Senior Legal Advisor and Head of the Legal Advisory Unit (May 2002 to August 2004).
On 8 August 2004, she was elected as Deputy Prosecutor (Prosecutions) with an overwhelming majority of votes by the Assembly of State Parties of the International Criminal Court. On 1 November 2004, Bensouda was sworn into Office as Deputy Prosecutor (Prosecutions).
On 1 December 2011 the Assembly of States Parties of the ICC announced that an informal agreement had been reached to make Bensouda the consensus choice to succeed Luis Moreno-Ocampo as Prosecutor of the ICC.[6] She was formally elected by consensus on 12 December 2011.[3] Her term as Prosecutor began in June 2012.[6]
Awards and honours
Bensouda has been the recipient of various awards, most notably, the distinguished ICJ International Jurists Award (2009), which was presented by President of India P. D. Patil. Bensouda was given this award for her contributions to criminal law both at the national and International level. Bensouda has also been awarded the 2011 World Peace Through Law Award presented by the Whitney Harris World Law Institute, Washington University, which recognized her work in considerably advancing the rule of law and thereby contributing to world peace.
Time magazine listed Mrs. Bensouda among the 100 most influential people in the world in its annual Time 100 issue.
Bensouda has been named by the leading African Magazine, Jeune Afrique, as the 4th most Influential Personality in Africa in the Civil Society Category.[7] and one of the 100 most Influential African Personalities.[8]
In December 2014, Fatou Bensouda was appointed by the Togolese magazine Africa Top Success for "African of the Year". The Angolan businesswoman competes against five opponents, namely Isabel dos Santos, Angélique Kidjo, Lupita Nyong'o, Daphne Mashile-Nkosi and Koki Mutungi.[9]
References
- ↑ TALAL ALHAJ (15 December 2011). "ICC’s new prosecutor on Arab conflicts, how Islam plays a role in guiding her and her vision for the international court". AL ARABIYA. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- ↑ "Gambia's Fatou Bensouda sworn in as ICC prosecutor". BBC News. 15 June 2012.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Farouk Chothia, "Africa's Fatou Bensouda is new ICC chief prosecutor", BBC News, 2011-12-12.
- ↑ Mike Gitau. "The Essence of Fatou Bensouda". Nairobi Sun. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- ↑ Farouk Chothia (12 December 2011). "Africa's Fatou Bensouda is new ICC chief prosecutor". BBC. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Fatou Bensouda in Line to Become Next International Criminal Court Prosecutor", Coalition for the International Criminal Court, Media Advisory, 2011-12-01.
- ↑ Jeune Afrique, No. 2450-2451, 26 Dec 2010 – 8 Jan 2011.
- ↑ Jeune Afrique, No. 2607-2608, 23 Dec 2007 – 5 Jan 2008.
- ↑ Africa Top Success Awards: Votez pour l’Africaine de l’année 2014 Africa Top Success
External links
- Mrs. Fatou Bensouda, ICC Prosecutor, International Criminal Court
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Hawa Sisay-Sabally |
Attorney General and Minister of Justice of The Gambia 1998–2000 |
Succeeded by Pap Cheyassin Secka |
| Preceded by Luis Moreno Ocampo |
Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court 2012–present |
Incumbent |
|