Colombia announced the nomination of Ambassador Carolina Olarte as a candidate for judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC), a decision with which the country seeks to strengthen its presence in the international justice system and contribute to the fight against the most serious crimes affecting the international community.
The candidacy was officially submitted by the Colombian government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio, the nomination represents a step that reaffirms Colombia’s commitment to multilateralism, the fight against impunity, and the promotion of international peace and security.
The election of new judges to the international tribunal is part of the periodic process through which the member states of the Rome Statute renew the composition of the judicial body based in The Hague.
Colombia puts forward Carolina Olarte for ICC judge
The Colombian government presented Olarte’s candidacy highlighting her experience in international law and her knowledge of how international tribunals operate. Authorities believe that her profile can contribute to the work of the court responsible for prosecuting war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and aggression.
During the official announcement, the foreign minister noted that the jurist meets the requirements to join the Court, especially due to her track record in areas such as international humanitarian law and human rights norms. The candidacy also seeks to contribute to the balance among legal systems and to the representation of different countries within the tribunal.
Villavicencio especially highlighted “her recognized competence in relevant matters of international law, such as international humanitarian law and human rights norms, while maintaining representation of the world’s principal legal systems and a balance between male and female judges.”
Olarte herself highlighted the significance of the nomination and the responsibility it entails. In public statements, she said her candidacy constitutes an act of trust by the Colombian state and a commitment to the role played by the International Criminal Court in defending global justice.
“It is an act of trust and, at the same time, an act of commitment to the fundamental role of the ICC, particularly in the fight against impunity for the most atrocious crimes, as well as to the fundamental role it plays in maintaining justice, peace, and international security,” said the nominee, who stressed that the tribunal plays a fundamental role in combating impunity for the most atrocious crimes and in preserving international peace and security.
In that context, she recalled that the world is going through a period marked by numerous conflicts and serious violations of international law. According to her remarks, the atrocities that continue to occur in different regions affect the conscience of humanity and reinforce the need to strengthen international judicial institutions.
En el marco de la presentación de su candidatura como Magistrada de la Corte Penal Internacional, la Embajadora Carolina Olarte destacó la importancia de fortalecer la justicia internacional y la lucha contra la impunidad frente a los crímenes más graves. pic.twitter.com/4flJXCQB5Q
— Cancillería Colombia (@CancilleriaCol) March 13, 2026
Personal and professional background of Carolina Olarte
Carolina Olarte has more than 25 years of experience in the legal, academic, and diplomatic fields. Throughout her career she has worked both in academic research and in the practice of international law, which has led her to participate in relevant processes on the global legal stage.
In the diplomatic field she served as Colombia’s ambassador to the Netherlands, the country that hosts several of the main international judicial institutions. That position allowed her to maintain direct contact with multilateral organizations and with the international justice system, including the International Criminal Court itself.
She has also participated in high-profile litigation representing the Colombian state. Among them is her role as co-agent in the case brought by Nicaragua against Colombia before the International Court of Justice, one of the most significant international proceedings the country has faced in recent decades.
Her career also includes extensive academic activity. Olarte has worked as a professor and specialist in international law, contributing to the training of jurists and to the development of studies on international justice, human rights, and humanitarian law.
The Colombian government considers that this combination of academic experience, legal practice, and diplomatic work constitutes a suitable profile for the tribunal in The Hague.
Olarte’s possible election will now depend on the voting process among the states that are part of the Rome Statute, which will decide the future composition of the International Criminal Court at a time when the role of international justice is once again occupying a central place in the global debate on conflicts and accountability for the most serious crimes.