[JURIST] The UN-backed International Criminal Court (ICC) [official website] swore in Silvana Arbia [press release] as new registrar in a ceremony at The Hague on Thursday, during which Arbia said [speech, PDF] that she intends to make protecting witnesses a priority as the ICC prepares for its first trial this year. Arbia was elected by the judges of the ICC in February, and will serve a five-year term as registrar. She will serve as the chief administrative and operational manager of the ICC.

The upcoming trial [JURIST report], scheduled for June, of former Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga [ICC materials; BBC profile] will be the first trial for the ICC since it was established six years ago. The UN News Centre has more.