Towards a stronger and more effective international criminal justice

16.07.2021

On the Day of International Criminal Justice, the European Union reaffirms its commitment to protect the judicial independence of the International Criminal Court and the integrity of the Rome Statute, while standing firm against any attempt to discredit the Court and obstruct its work

Atrocity crimes did not stop during the pandemic. However, the spread of the virus posed additional challenges to the normal functioning of the International Criminal Court (ICC), one of the pillars of a global order where impunity must no longer be an option. Every 17th of July, on the anniversary of the historic adoption of the Rome Statute of the ICC in 1998, we take a moment to reflect on the importance of fighting impunity and bringing justice for the victims of the most serious crimes: genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“As the world’s first and only permanent international criminal court, the International Criminal Court plays a crucial role in a shared rules-based global order and in advancing the fight against impunity for international crimes. Despite this crucial role, its work and independence continue to be frequently challenged”, reads the Declaration issued by the HR/VP Josep Borrell on behalf of the EU to mark the date.

The EU High Representative stated the EU´s will to work together with the Court and all its 123 Member States on the ongoing efforts to make the ICC stronger and more effective. Currently, the ICC and the Rome Statute is undergoing the most far-reaching process of review since the Court began its operations in 2002. Borrell also took the opportunity to thank Ms. Fatou Bensouda for her “determined and dedicated work” as Prosecutor and, previously, Deputy Prosecutor of the ICC during the last 17 years, and welcomed Mr. Karim Khan as the new chief Prosecutor of the ICC.

The International Criminal Court in numbers

Today the Court has:

• Over 900 staff members: From approximately 100 States. 
• 6 official languages: English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish.
• 1 ICC Liaison Office to the United Nations in New York and 7 ICC Country Offices in Kinshasa and Bunia (Democratic Republic of the Congo, “DRC”); Kampala (Uganda); Bangui (Central African Republic, “CAR”); Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire); Tbilisi (Georgia); and Bamako (Mali). 
• 2 working languages: English and French. 
• Headquarters: The Hague, the Netherlands. 
• 2020 budget: €149,205,600

Since the entry into force of the Rome Statute in 2002, there have thus far been 30 cases before the International Criminal Court, with some cases having more than one suspect. So far, the ICC judges have issued 35 arrest warrants (17 people appeared before the Court, while 13 remain at large), 10 convictions and 4 acquittals.

Currently, the ICC holds 14 situations under investigation in the following countries: Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Darfur (Sudan), Central African Republic, Kenya, Libya, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Georgia, Burundi, Bangladesh/Myanmar, Afghanistan. In addition to that, the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC is conducting ongoing preliminary examinations on different situations in Colombia, Guinea, Nigeria, Philippines, Ukraine, Bolivia and Venezuela.