Speaker details

Biography

Dr. Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi is a career diplomat and former International Criminal Court judge and president with over thirty-year experience in international criminal law, humanitarian and human rights law. She was involved in the creation, set up and functioning of the ICC in various capacities for most of her career. She was elected as President of the ICC Assembly of States Parties for a three-year term, assuming this role in 2021. She played a leadership role in the creation and setting up of the International Criminal Court as President on the Working Group on Criminal Procedure and Vice-President of the Committee of the Whole at the Rome Conference. She was also instrumental in the negotiations of the complementary instruments of the Rome Statute as chair of the Working Group on Rules of Procedure and Evidence and the Working Group on Aggression. In addition to ICC matters, she led efforts to strengthen the rule of law through the adoption of additional norms and increased cooperation in the field of international human rights and humanitarian law, international criminal law and transitional justice. Prior to joining the ICC, Judge Fernández de Gurmendi was director general for Human Rights (2008-2009) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Argentina. Having taught international law and international criminal law at various universities, Judge Fernández de Gurmendi’s academic experience includes professorships at the University of Buenos Aires and Palermo. She has lectured around the world and published several national and international publications related to the ICC including, amongst others, the role of the Prosecutor, criminal procedure, and the definition of victims.