Election of Ms. Fumiko Saiga, Ambassador in Charge of Human Rights and Member of the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), as Judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC)

December 1, 2007

On November 30 (Japan time: December 1), at the Sixth Session of the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court (ICC) now being held at the United Nations Headquarters, a by-election of ICC judges was held and Japan’s candidate Ms. Fumiko Saiga, Ambassador in Charge of Human Rights and Member of the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), was elected as a judge, winning 82 votes out of 105, which was the largest number among all candidates.
Japan intends to proactively participate in the development of international criminal law as well as international humanitarian law through the activities of the ICC and also to make the utmost contribution to the ICC in terms of human resources. Japan believes that the election of a Japanese judge in the first election of ICC judges for Japan indicates the appreciation of other states for Japan’s positive attitude.
As Ambassador Saiga is well versed in the practice of international law especially in the fields of human rights and humanitarian affairs through her long experiences as a diplomat, she is expected to play a bigger role as the first woman ICC judge from Asia.

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