Akane Tomoko, a Japanese judge at the International Criminal Court, has been elected as its president, becoming the first Japanese to take the helm of the court.

The ICC, based in The Hague, the Netherlands, announced on Monday that Akane was elected through a vote by her fellow judges. Her term will last three years.

Akane has been an ICC judge since March 2018. She previously served as a prosecutor across Japan, including at Hakodate District Public Prosecutors' Office and the Supreme Pubic Prosecutors' Office.

The aim of the ICC is to try individuals responsible for inhumane atrocities in wars and conflicts. It handles grave crimes such as genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Last March, the court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the transfer of children from Ukraine to Russia. Russia responded by putting ICC officials, including Akane, on its wanted list.

Akane said in a statement that, "I am deeply honoured to have been elected by my fellow judges" "I will focus on fostering dialogue amongst the organs of the Court, and defence and victims' representatives, as well as reinforcing the dialogue with States Parties and States that have not yet ratified the Rome Statute," she said.