Carla DEL PONTE Chief Prosecutor to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia Carla Del Ponte was born in Lugano on February 9, 1947. After studying English in Great Britain, she read law in Bern and Geneva, earning her degree (LL.M.) in 1972.

The same year, Carla Del Ponte received on-the-job training at a law office in Lugano. In 1975 she began practicing law, setting up her own law and notary’s office in Lugano. In September 1981, Ms. Del Ponte was appointed investigating magistrate and later became public prosecutor, working with the office of the Lugano district attorney. Responsible for investigating financial and white-collar crime, international drug trafficking and organized crime, Carla Del Ponte gained thorough knowledge of international legal assistance in criminal matters.

On April 1, 1994, Ms. Del Ponte was appointed Attorney General of Switzerland. She is also a member of the Federal Commission on White-Collar Crime.

On 11 August 1999 the UN Security Council appointed Carla Del Ponte to the position of Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunals of the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, effective 15 September 1999.