Carla Del Ponte
A Swiss prosecutor who pursued war criminals from the Balkans to Rwanda, becoming a fearless and controversial symbol of international justice.
Born 1947 (age 79)·Swiss prosecutor and diplomat·Birthday: February 9·Baby Boomers
Biography
Carla Del Ponte's career is a study in relentless, often lonely, pursuit. Starting as a prosecutor in Switzerland taking on organized crime and financial corruption, she developed a taste for complex, high-stakes cases. Her appointment as Chief Prosecutor for the UN tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda in 1999 placed her at the heart of modern international law's most painful chapters. From her base in The Hague, she indicted sitting heads of state like Slobodan Milošević and worked to bring figures like Ratko Mladić to justice, facing down intimidation and political obstruction. Her tenure was marked by fierce criticism from all sides—victims' groups, accused governments, and even the UN itself—but she never softened her belief that justice was non-negotiable. Later, as part of a UN inquiry into Syria, she resigned in frustration over the Security Council's inaction, a final testament to her uncompromising stance.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Carla was born in 1947, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Carla Was Born
The biggest hits of 1947
#1 Movie
The Egg and I
Best Picture
Gentleman's Agreement
Carla's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1947Born
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1952Started school
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1960Became a teenager
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Could drive
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1965Could vote
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1968Turned 21
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1977Turned 30
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 40
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 50
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 60
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 70
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 79 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and for Rwanda (ICTR) from 1999 to 2007.
- Secured the indictment and transfer to The Hague of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević for war crimes.
- As Swiss Attorney General, led major investigations into financial corruption and organized crime, including the case against the Banco Ambrosiano.
- Authored the book 'Madame Prosecutor', a memoir detailing her confrontations with political obstacles in pursuing war criminals.
Did You Know?
Early in her legal career, she successfully prosecuted the 'Pizza Connection' case in Switzerland, a massive heroin trafficking operation.
She received numerous death threats during her time as a war crimes prosecutor, leading to constant security protection.
Before law, she worked in her family's hotel business in Lugano, Switzerland.
She is known for her distinctive, bold fashion sense, often wearing large, statement necklaces.
“I am not afraid of anyone. I have to do my job.”
