ICC President addresses high-level panel in Geneva on Rome Statute, accountability and the protection of human rights
Today, 11 November 2015, the President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, participated in a high-level panel discussion on the Rome Statute, accountability and the protection of human rights convened by the permanent missions of Denmark and Cyprus to the United Nations in Geneva.
President Fernández underlined the significance of Geneva - the second-largest centre of the United Nations and the seat of the Human Rights Council - as an important venue for increasing awareness and support for international criminal justice. She highlighted the connections between the human rights agenda of the United Nations and the goals of the Rome Statute in addressing and helping prevent crimes which impact directly on the enjoyment of fundamental human rights.
President Fernández drew attention to the complementarity principle as a crucial feature of the Rome Statute system, under which national jurisdictions of State have a primary role in investigating and prosecuting genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. In this respect it is crucial that the international community - United Nations, States and other entities - support the capacity building of national jurisdictions to address atrocity crimes.
In her remarks, President Fernández praised the efforts made by States Parties to promote universality and national implementation of the Rome Statute in the context of the Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council. She recalled that progress toward universal ratification is essential for the Court's ability to exercise its global mandate. The President furthermore highlighted the important role played by civil society in strengthening the international criminal justice system.
In addition to the ICC President, the panel featured the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Chairperson of the Committee Against Torture, the permanent representatives of Uganda and Costa Rica to the UN in Geneva and the Secretary-General of Parliamentarians for Global Action, and it was moderated by the permanent representatives of Cyprus and Denmark. Cyprus and Denmark are the co-focal points for the Plan of Action on Universality and Full Implementation of the Rome Statute within the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute.
During her visit to Geneva, President Fernández held bilateral meetings with Mr Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Mr Kofi Annan, Chairman of the Kofi Annan Foundation, Chairman of The Elders and former United Nations Secretary-General.
For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or +31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: [email protected].
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