Remarks by H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly
New York,
10 November 2021
His Excellency, Judge Piotr Hofmański, President of the International Criminal Court
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Thank you for joining today’s presentation of the Annual Report of the International Criminal Court.
I have great honour to welcome Judge Hofmanski to present the report and to receive feedback from Member States on the progress made.
Colleagues,
Over 22 years ago the international community united to deliver justice for victims of grave crimes, to end impunity for the perpetrators of such crimes, and to prevent their future occurrence.
These global efforts culminated in the Rome Statute, establishing the International Criminal Court.
The Statute seeks to promote a universal culture of upholding the Rule of Law, human rights and human dignity by fighting impunity for the commission of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.
However, it is only through the universal ratification or accession to the Rome Statute that the jurisdiction of the ICC will encompass international crimes allegedly committed by any person in any place. I commend those States that have become parties to the Rome Statute, and I would encourage States which are yet to ratify or accede to do so at the earliest.
Today the ICC is a vital part of the multilateral system, promoting the rule of law, encouraging respect for human rights, and contributing to peace and security.
By securing landmark convictions for serious crimes – including sexual and gender-based crimes, the recruitment of child soldiers, and the destruction of cultural heritage – the ICC has become an indispensable pillar of global justice. I applaud the Court for its many achievements.
Excellencies,
To effectively fulfil its mission, Member States must extend to the Court their full cooperation. And we must identify areas in which we can do better.
Today’s debate on the annual report is an opportunity for the international community to do just that.
As members of the global community, it is our responsibility to always uphold the values of peace and justice for all of humanity.
I trust that you join me in welcoming the annual report, which spotlights both progress and challenges in the fight for accountability for the worst crimes under international law.
And I hope that you will contribute meaningfully to the debate to follow.
I thank you.
Throughout our disarmament efforts, it is my conviction that women and youth can make a meaningful contribution. Let us take special pains to ensure that women and youth, as well as civil society, are more actively engaged in this work going forward.
