Fiji’s Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Nazhat Shameem Khan is vying for the position of Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
She has been shortlisted amongt five others for the $F415,000 salary position that will be based in The Hague, Netherlands.
As many as 177 candidates had applied for the position with the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, stating in a communication to the President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute on October 10 that “it was the unanimous view of the panel that Ms Khan was an outstanding candidate who would make a truly exceptional deputy prosecutor, if elected”.
The letter stated Ms Khan was currently serving as the president of the Human Rights Council, with her term due at the end of 2021.
“In each of her responses through assessment, Ms Khan displayed a thorough understanding of the breadth and depth of issues, provided insightful and well-developed responses to all questions posed,” said Mr Khan in the letter.
“Her substantive knowledge of the Rome Statute was impressive and she brings with her extensive knowledge and competence on gender-related issues.”
Ms Khan has stated in a communication that will be given to voting countries that “as a Fijian national, it would be an honour for me, for my country and for the Pacific region, to be appointed to the post of Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.
“I believe that all lawyers must be guided by time-honoured rules of ethics and that standards of professional conduct must guide all legal practitioners, whether as prosecutors or as defence counsel,” she stated.
“I am committed to the grounding of all prosecution decisions on the law and the evidence, without improper external influence.”
The other candidates were Sylvia Domaradzki from Canada, Paolina Massida from Italy, Mame Niang of Senegal, Claudia Paz Bailey from Guatemala and Alex Whiting of France.
The election of the deputy prosecutor will take place at the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute scheduled for December 2021.
