Press Releases
Statement by Foreign Press Secretary Yasuhisa Kawamura on the Election of Judge Kuniko Ozaki of the International Criminal Court (ICC), as the Second Vice President of the Court
1. The Government of Japan welcomes the election of Judge Kuniko Ozaki, a Japanese judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC), in the election to the Second Vice President of the Court, which was carried out in the Hague, Netherlands, on March 11 (Wed).
2. Given the increasing role of the ICC in the fight against impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole, the contribution of Japanese judges in the ICC is extremely significant. Japan believes that the election of Judge Ozaki, who has already played her important role for the last five years as a judge of the ICC, as the first Japanese Vice President of the Court, is significant in that it indicates the high evaluation given to her. Judge Ozaki is expected to play an ever greater role as the Vice President of the Court.
3. The Government of Japan is determined to continue its cooperation for the development of the ICC, and to actively contribute to the promotion of the rule of law in the international community.
