ICSS Announces Three New Appointments to Board of Directors

The International Centre for Sport Security announced today the appointment of Judge Fausto Pocar, Former President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Ambassador Douglas E. Lute, Former United States Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Council, the NATO’s standing political body and in an honorary function Ambassador Thomas Stelzer, former UN Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs, currently Dean of International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) to the ICSS Board of Directors.

Speaking of the new Members, ICSS Chairman Mohammed Hanzab said, "We are honoured and delighted to welcome the esteemed new members to our Governing Body. They bring a wealth of experience, inspiration and leadership in areas of work covered by our organisation’s mission. We are ready to bring the ICSS to the next level as we move forward stronger under the oversight and guidance of our Board of Directors."

Speaking of the new role, Judge Fausto Pocar, Former President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) said;

"While dedicating a major part of my career to the legal protection of human rights and values from gravest atrocities committed towards humanity in the course of international and internal conflicts, I observed how sport can be a beacon of light during the darkest periods of time. Sport represents a universal celebration of humanity. It is a platform for promoting equality and freedom, provided the competition is fair and respectful of human rights. We cannot ignore that sport is at risk. Illegal activities such as human trafficking by fake sport organisations, abuse against minors and other criminal activities too frequently tarnish the purity of sport. Therefore, I am glad to join the Board of the ICSS and look forward to contributing to the mission of safeguarding sport of this visionary and independent organisation."

Ambassador Douglas E. Lute, Former United States Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Council said;

"I am very pleased to accept the appointment to the ICSS Board of Directors and have an opportunity to contribute towards the growth of an organisation that has worked credibly and constructively with international organisations, governments and sport governing bodies for the past ten years.

Nowadays the security of sport and major sporting events cannot be addressed without paying special attention to international security and global threats. I believe that the ICSS, because of its multi-sectoral approach, research-based orientation and neutrality, is well-placed to increase awareness and take the conversation to policy and decision-makers globally."

Ambassador Thomas Stelzer, Dean of International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA), Member of the High-Level Panel on International Financial Accountability, Transparency and Integrity for Achieving the 2030 Agenda (FACTI Panel) said;

"It is my pleasure to accept this role as an honorary Board Member of the ICSS Board. I look forward to contributing to the work of this organization which has been at the forefront of sport security and integrity since its establishment. The ICSS has built its excellent reputation by being one of the first international entities to invest in scientific research to address corruption and other criminal behaviours which are putting the future of sport at risk. I have accepted this honorary role to lend my expertise to the many programmes developed by the ICSS in collaboration with other international organisations.

As the Dean of IACA, efforts regarding the prevention and fight against corruption are the focus of my daily work. As such I wish to encourage the Centre to intensify its work in the field of sport integrity also in view of the Special Session of the General Assembly (GA) of the United Nations which will take place in 2021, and which will be the first UNGA specifically dealing with anti-corruption."

About Judge Fausto Pocar, Former President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY);

Fausto Pocar is professor emeritus of International Law at the University of Milan, where he taught Private International Law and European Law, and where he served as Faculty Dean and Vice-Rector.

Prof. Pocar served in the Italian delegation to the UN General Assembly in New York and the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva and was a member of the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations, serving as the Committee's Chair from 1991-92.

In 1999, he was appointed as a judge to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), was Vice-President of the Tribunal from November 2003 to November 2005, and President from November 2005 to November 2008.

In 2017, Fausto Pocar was appointed Judge ad hoc of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

About Ambassador Douglas E. Lute, Former United States Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Council;

Ambassador Douglas Lute is the former United States Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Council, NATO’s standing political body. Appointed by President Obama, he assumed the Brussels based post in 2013 and served until 2017. During this period, he was instrumental in designing and implementing the 28-nation Alliance’s responses to the most severe security challenges in Europe since the end of the Cold War. He received the State Department’s Distinguished Honor Award.

About Ambassador Thomas Stelzer, Dean of International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA), Member of the High-Level Panel on International Financial Accountability, Transparency and Integrity for Achieving the 2030 Agenda (FACTI Panel);

Ambassador Thomas Stelzer has been a long-serving member of the foreign service of the Republic of Austria. He has served as Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations Office in Vienna, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization Preparatory Commission; and more recently as Ambassador to Portugal. He also served as Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs at the United Nations, and as the Secretary of the United Nations Chief Executives Board.

At the Austrian Permanent Mission in New York, he has worked in the areas of international security and disarmament issues, as well as development cooperation. He was also Special Assistant to the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban-Treaty Organization (CTBTO PrepCom).

Among his various other professional activities, Thomas Stelzer has also held a position of Deputy-Director of the Austrian Cultural Institute in New York. Currently he holds the position of Dean of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA).

The new members are joining the current Board of Directors chaired by Mohammed Hanzab, Founder of the ICSS, Mohammed Hajjaj Al Hajri, Vice-Chairman, Lord John Stevens, former Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police, Michael Hershman, Co-founder of Transparency International and Karen Webb Moss, Former Vice-President, Image and Marketing Communications at the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

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