The ABA’s ICC Project welcomes the Honorable Stephen J. Rapp to its Board of Advisors.
Washington D.C., Nov. 3, 2015 - The American Bar Association (ABA)’s International Criminal Court (ICC) Project is pleased to announce that the Honorable Stephen J. Rapp, former U.S. Ambassador at-large for War Crimes Issues in the U.S. State Department’s Office of Global Criminal Justice, has joined the Project’s Board of Advisors. Ambassador Rapp is a preeminent leader and expert in the field of international criminal justice in the United States and the world.
Ambassador Rapp has served as: Ambassador at-large for War Crimes Issues at the U.S. State Department’s Office of Global Criminal Justice from 2009 to 2015; Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone from 2007 to 2009; and Senior Trial Attorney and Chief of Prosecutions at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda from 2001 to 2007.
In Sierra Leone, Ambassador Rapp lead the prosecution against former Liberian President Charles Taylor for atrocities committed during the Sierra Leone conflict and his team won the first convictions for sexual slavery, forced marriages, and recruitment of child soldiers under international law.
In Rwanda, Ambassador Rapp also lead the prosecution of RTLM radio and Kangura newspaper and his team won the first convictions against leaders of mass media for direct and public incitement to commit genocide under international law.
On the domestic front, Ambassador Rapp also served his country as: U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa from 1993 to 2001; Representative in the Iowa House of Representatives; and staff director and counsel for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency. He received his B.A. Degree from Harvard College and J.D. from Drake Law School.
Michael S. Greco, former ABA President and Chair of the ABA Center for Human Rights, welcomed Ambassador Rapp to the Board and said, “We are delighted to welcome Ambassador Rapp to the Project’s Board of Advisors. He brings vast international criminal law expertise, insight, leadership and sound judgment that will enhance our distinguished international Board of Advisors and its important guiding role for the Project.”
The ABA’s International Criminal Court (ICC) Project is an independent initiative of the ABA Center for Human Rights that advances international criminal justice and US-ICC relations through advocacy, education, and practical legal assistance. More information about the ABA’s ICC Project can be found at its website.