The Chief Prosecutor of the War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague "deserves recognition as a tireless and uncompromising force behind war crimes prosecutions that are critical for the protection of human rights," says the honorary chairman of the American Society of International Law (ASIL) in awarding the medal.


The Chief Prosecutor of the War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague, Carla del Ponte, received the “Goler T. Butcher” medal today. It is a medal that the American Society of International Law (ASIL) annually presents to a distinguished person for outstanding contributions to the development of international human rights law.

At a ceremony attended by Tribunal judges and representatives of the Office of the Prosecutor and Registry, Carla del Ponte was given the medal by a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Thomas Buergenthal. He is the honorary chairman of the ASIL and the first person to receive the medal.

“Carla Del Ponte deserves recognition as a tireless and uncompromising force behind war crimes prosecutions that are critical for the protection of human rights," Buergenthal said.

"This medal recognizes tremendous developments that have taken place in international criminal law in the last decade," Del Ponte said after she received it. "Behind these developments are men and women. None of it would have taken place without the vision and contribution of my predecessors and successive presidents."

In Del Ponte's view, the experience to date "gives hope that international justice will develop...in accordance with its own principles and independently of states’ interests and pressures."

"We are not there yet," Del Ponte warned, adding that efforts to this end will continue beyond this tribunal and will be a challenge for the ICC.

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