Carla Del Ponte

Carla Del Ponte is a renowned Swiss legal expert who served as Chief Prosecutor of two United Nations international criminal law tribunals. Most notably, she held the position of prosecutor for both the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) from 1999 onwards. Her legal career began in Switzerland, where she established herself as a formidable prosecutor tackling complex cases involving money laundering, fraud, drug trafficking, and international arms smuggling. As Swiss attorney general, she gained recognition for her rigorous approach to investigating organized crime and financial corruption. At the UN tribunals, Del Ponte led prosecutions of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the high-profile case against Slobodan Milošević. She served as ICTY prosecutor until 2008, though her role at the ICTR ended in 2003 following political pressure from Rwanda. Following her work at the tribunals, Del Ponte transitioned to diplomacy, serving as Swiss ambassador to Argentina from 2008 to 2011. Her career spans over four decades of legal and public service, marked by persistent efforts to pursue international justice.

Readers value Del Ponte's insider perspective on international criminal justice, particularly in her memoir "Madame Prosecutor." Several reviews note her detailed accounts of prosecuting war criminals and navigating political pressures at the UN tribunals. What readers liked: - First-hand insights into major war crimes cases - Clear explanations of complex legal processes - Documentation of obstacles in international justice - Personal anecdotes about confronting powerful figures What readers disliked: - Dense legal terminology - Limited coverage of certain cases - Writing style can be dry and technical - Some readers found her tone self-congratulatory Ratings: - Goodreads: 3.8/5 (127 ratings) - Amazon: 4.2/5 (24 ratings) One reviewer on Goodreads wrote: "Del Ponte provides crucial historical documentation of the challenges in prosecuting international crimes." Another noted: "The legal details can be overwhelming for general readers, but her personal experiences are compelling."

The Hunt: Me and the War Criminals (2008) A memoir detailing Del Ponte's experiences as chief prosecutor at the UN war crimes tribunals for Yugoslavia and Rwanda, documenting her pursuit of accused war criminals and the challenges of international justice.

Madame Prosecutor: Confrontations with Humanity's Worst Criminals and the Culture of Impunity (2009) A detailed account of Del Ponte's time prosecuting war criminals at the International Criminal Tribunal, exploring the complexities of bringing perpetrators to justice and the obstacles faced in international law.

Louise Arbour - Former Chief Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunals who preceded Del Ponte and prosecuted cases in Rwanda and Yugoslavia. Her memoir "War Crimes and the Culture of Peace" details similar experiences pursuing international justice.

Richard Goldstone - First Chief Prosecutor of the UN International Criminal Tribunals who established many of the procedures Del Ponte later followed. His books focus on transitional justice and the development of international criminal law.

Geoffrey Robertson - International human rights lawyer who writes extensively about crimes against humanity and genocide prosecutions. His work "Crimes Against Humanity: The Struggle for Global Justice" covers many of the same legal territories as Del Ponte's cases.

Philippe Sands - International lawyer who writes about war crimes trials and genocide law. His book "East West Street" connects personal history with the development of international criminal law concepts Del Ponte worked with.

David Scheffer - First U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues who worked on establishing the tribunals where Del Ponte served. His memoir "All the Missing Souls" chronicles the creation of international criminal courts and pursuit of war criminals.