Uganda hails election of its judge to serve at ICC

KAMPALA, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan judiciary on Thursday welcomed the election of Justice Solomy Balungi Bossa to serve at the International Criminal Court (ICC) based in The Hague, Netherlands

Justice Mike Chibita, Director of Public Prosecutions, told Xinhua in an interview that the Tuesday election of Balungi elevates Uganda's status in international law and confidence on its judiciary.

Balungi was elected at the ongoing 16th session of the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

"It is a vote of confidence in the Ugandan judiciary and a recognition of the professionalism and role in ICC and international law in general," said Chibita.

Balungi joins other five new judges from Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Western Europe elected on Tuesday to fill vacancies on the 18-member ICC.

The candidates to serve at the court are required to have "established competence" in criminal law and procedures or in areas of international law, such as human rights law and humanitarian law.

Uganda in February nominated Justice Balungi whose judicial and legal work spans almost three decades for being a highly accomplished judge at the national, regional and international level.

The ICC was created by the 2002 Rome Statute as an independent and permanent court to try persons accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Enditem