The International Criminal Court celebrates Twenty years of fighting impunity for mass atrocities.

07-07-2022

Grace ATALUI MOKANGO

International Justice and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

The existence of the International Criminal Court is the result of the will of States to create an international jurisdiction with a universal vocation, with the competence to prosecute and judge the perpetrators of the most severe crimes violating international law. The Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court, came into force on 1 July 2002 following its ratification by 60 states around the world, thus officially creating the Court two years after the Conference held in Rome between June and July 1998. 

Thus, on 1 July 2022, on the occasion of the twentyth anniversary of the ICC, to mark this day, the President of the Court, Judge Piotr Hofmański stated: “On the 20th anniversary of the ICC, we can celebrate the fact that we have a permanent, independent international court dedicated to the fight against impunity for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression.” He continued: “I invite all States to join the ICC, to give victims everywhere access to justice, and to help protect humankind from atrocities.” 

Prosecutor Karim Khan and Court Registrar Peter Lewis also celebrated two decades of fighting impunity by stating that after 20 years of operation, the support and cooperation of both States Parties and non-States Parties, international organisations, and civil society has been crucial. 

Now more than ever, the Court needs the cooperation of all parties involved to ensure a safer world and total impunity for the perpetrators of genocide, war, aggression, and against humanity while guaranteeing access to participation, representation, and reparation for victims. 

Source and further reading

International Criminal Court, International Criminal Court marks 20th anniversary, Press Release, ( 1 July 2022), from: https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/international-criminal-court-marks-20th-anniversary