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Remarks Delivered on Behalf of the President of the General Assembly, Mr. Philemon Yang, Report of the International Criminal Court – Item 74<\/strong><\/p>\n Monday, 28 October 2024, General Assembly Hall<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ladies and gentlemen,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n At the outset, I would like to congratulate Judge Tomoko Akane on her election as President of the International Criminal Court and extend my best wishes as she undertakes these important responsibilities.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It is my pleasure to address this plenary debate and to welcome the submission of the Court\u2019s report, which provides a comprehensive overview of its work during the past year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Since its establishment in 2002, the International Criminal Court has been a key part of the fight against impunity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It remains, and will continue to be, an essential international judicial body for addressing the most serious crimes of global concern.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Failing to hold individuals accountable for heinous crimes fosters a culture of lawlessness, perpetuates violence, and hinders progress toward lasting peace and security.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Impunity undermines the rule of law, erodes trust in justice systems, and weakens the protection of human rights.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to condemn ongoing cyberattacks and other threats against the Court and its officials.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Such malicious acts obstruct the pursuit of justice for victims of serious crimes and are an obstacle to the fight against injustice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Through its work, the International Criminal Court has made notable progress in combatting impunity, as reflected in its annual reports to the General Assembly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Court\u2019s victim-centered approach is especially commendable.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This ensures that the fight against impunity not only holds perpetrators accountable but also addresses the needs of victims.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Although the International Criminal Court is separate from the United Nations, cooperation between the two institutions is crucial for advancing global justice and promoting international peace and security.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Court\u2019s ability to uphold global norms and the rule of law depends on collaboration between these two institutions as well as Member States.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As a cornerstone of the international criminal justice system, the Court\u2019s partnership with the United Nations, along with continued support from Member States, will remain critical to its effectiveness in the years ahead.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n At the heart of the Rome Statute is the principle of complementarity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This principle which regulates the exercise of the Court\u2019s jurisdiction, recognizes that the International Criminal Court functions as a court of last resort, only exercising its jurisdiction where national courts fail to do so.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Accordingly, strengthening justice systems at the national level, including through capacity building initiatives should be a priority for us all.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This ensures that countries are equipped to effectively manage and prosecute the most serious offenses.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The urgency of these efforts is especially important in these challenging times.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In recent years, conflicts such as those in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan have seen the potential commission of heinous crimes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It is vital that impunity in these situations is not tolerated. States must prioritize accountability, ensure justice for victims, and restore a sense of security within affected communities.<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I conclude by emphasizing that the International Criminal Court plays a vital role in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 16 by promoting peaceful, inclusive societies, ensuring access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Through its commitment to justice and accountability, the Court not only reinforces global peace and security efforts but also strengthens the broader framework of sustainable development.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This year, we have a unique opportunity to renew momentum with the recent adoption of the Pact for the Future.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n While serving as a blueprint for revitalizing multilateralism going forward, it also strongly urges us to redouble our efforts to end impunity for the most serious crimes under international law.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n These include genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and other atrocity crimes. We must ensure accountability for such crimes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Essential to this effort is the promotion of the rule of law.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In that spirit, as we look ahead, let us reaffirm our collective responsibility to support and uphold the work of the International Criminal Court, ensuring that justice prevails, and impunity has no place in our world.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thank you very much.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Media\u00a0Contacts<\/strong><\/p>\n Sharon Birch<\/strong>,\u00a0Spokesperson for\u00a0the President of the General Assembly,\u00a0Tel: + 212 963 0564, M: +1 646 342 5873, Email:\u00a0birchs@un.org<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Dr. Mariam Shaikh,\u00a0<\/strong>Adviser\/ Social and Digital Media\/Media Relations M: +1 917 3614990,\u00a0mariam.shaikh@un.org<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n More Information and Updates\u00a0:\u00a0Website<\/a>:\u00a0\u00a0YouTube:\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0X (Twitter):<\/a>\u00a0Instagram<\/a>:\u00a0\u00a0LinkedIn:\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0Photo Repository:\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Remarks Delivered on Behalf of the President of the General Assembly, Mr. Philemon Yang,26th Plenary Meeting, 79th session, Report of the International Criminal Court – Item 74 Monday, 28 October […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":373,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[81,111],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-281871","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","category-speeches","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n
26th Plenary Meeting, 79th session,<\/strong><\/p>\n
[As delivered by H.E. Aida Kasymalieva, Permanent Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United Nations]<\/strong><\/p>\n