Statement of the President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), on the Occasion of Human Rights Day, 10 December 2013

On this Human Rights Day, I express my deepest sympathies to all persons whose fundamental human rights have been violated, especially those living in areas of continuing conflict. Human rights, enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sixty-five years ago, cannot be taken for granted. They must be vigilantly protected and promoted. 

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is not a human rights court in the strict sense. It looks at the responsibility of individuals, not States. But the ICC is every bit a court in the service of human rights. The Rome Statute of the ICC, adopted in 1998, holds accountable those responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide when national judicial systems are unable or unwilling to do so. These crimes constitute some of the worst violations of human rights. Charges currently being investigated or prosecuted by the ICC include murder, rape, torture, forcible deportation, pillaging and the forced enlistment of children.

Uniquely, for the first time in the history of international criminal justice, victims can actively participate in the proceedings before the Court and apply for reparations. The Trust Funds for Victims is providing a broad range of support to over 110,000 victims and their communities in rebuilding their lives and regaining hope for a better future. By upholding the principle of individual criminal responsibility and combatting impunity, the ICC is also, crucially, deterring future violations of the most fundamental human rights.

While almost two-thirds of the world’s sovereign nations are ICC States Parties, a number of countries, comprising the majority of the world’s population, still remain outside the Rome Statute system. Last week, I visited Indonesia and Malaysia, where I met senior politicians and officials in order to facilitate these countries’ decisions on accession to the Rome Statute. I equally wish to see every other State not yet party to the Rome Statute to join. This is, naturally, a decision for each State to make. But protecting most fundamental human rights is also a common concern of humanity as a whole. Our commitment to the Rome Statute system must become global. Universal human rights cannot be fully protected and promoted without a universal International Criminal Court.

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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