The 50-year-old lawyer has been serving since 2004 as Moreno-Ocampo's deputy. Bensouda was elected ICC Prosecutor by the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to the Rome Statute on December 12, 2011 for the same period.
During a brief ceremony, the new prosecutor promised to perform her duties and exercise powers as Prosecutor of the court “honourably, faithfully, impartially and conscientiously.”
The ceremony was presided over by ICC President Sang-Hyun Song, who expressed his confidence that “her strong independent voice, legal expertise and genuine concern for human rights issues will contribute greatly to the continued fight against impunity”.
The ceremony was witnessed by judges of the court, registry officials, the outgoing ICC first Prosecutor, Moreno-Ocampo and several other dignitaries, including The ASP President, Tiina Intelmann, who administrated the solemn undertaking for the new prosecutor.
Bensouda previously worked as a legal adviser at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in Tanzania, before joining the ICC.
FK/GF