ICC - Visit of the United Nations Secretary-General to the International Criminal Court

Visit of the United Nations Secretary-General to the International Criminal Court

Today, Wednesday 12 April 2006, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan paid an official visit to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Mr. Annan and his delegation visited a courtroom and later met with the members of the Presidency and Deputy Prosecutor Ms. Fatou Bensouda.

During the meeting, the President of the Court, Judge Philippe Kirsch, and Ms. Bensouda provided an overview of the activities of the Court and of the Office of the Prosecutor respectively. Judge Kirsch thanked the UN Secretary-General for his personal long-standing support for the ICC and for the support of the UN. Mr. Annan and his hosts also discussed cooperation between the UN and the ICC as well as the role of the ICC in the system of international criminal justice.

The ICC Statute was negotiated under the auspices of the UN.  Following the establishment of the ICC, Judge Kirsch and Mr. Annan signed the Relationship Agreement between the ICC and the UN in October 2004.  On 8 November 2005, Judge Philippe Kirsch addressed the United Nations (UN) General Assembly during the session of the UN General Assembly discussing the first-ever report of the ICC to the UN.  

For further information, please contact the ICC Spokesperson Ernest Sagaga on Tel. +31 (0)70 515 8762 / Mob. +31 (0)6 4644 8710