By Joke Kujenya
THE INTERNATIONAL Criminal Court (ICC) faces mounting challenges in its mission to deliver justice for international crimes.
ICC President Judge Tomoko Akane highlighted these obstacles before the United Nations General Assembly on October 28, 2024, while presenting the Court’s annual report.
Also highlighting a surge in case demands over the past year, she emphasized the ongoing necessity of ICC interventions in investigations, pre-trials, trials, appeals, and reparations.
Akane further noted that the ICC is under unprecedented pressures from coercive measures threatening its independence and commitment to justice, a stance firmly rooted in the Rome Statute’s mission to ensure that grave crimes affecting the global community do not go unpunished.
“We are only bound by the law and we do not change the course of our actions due to threats,” she said, emphasizing the Court’s dedication to impartiality and integrity.
She also appealed for robust cooperation from States Parties, whose legal obligations include enforcing arrest warrants from the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chambers.
Furthermore, Akane voiced concern over the lack of decisive action by some States, stressing that cooperation is not optional under the Statute but a duty to support the Court’s mission.
“The obligation to arrest and surrender remains a critical means to ensure justice,” she reiterated.
The ICC, she said, also seeks to broaden global support by promoting universal ratification of the Rome Statute, the Court’s founding treaty.
Akane highlighted the essential role of civil society organizations in raising awareness, reinforcing efforts to expand the network of support for international justice.
Security of ICC operations remains a top priority, and Akane urged UN members to take proactive measures to shield the Court from threats that could undermine its function.
Reflecting on the significance of the ICC’s work, Akane concluded with a heartfelt reminder of the innocent civilians affected by crimes.
“The international institutions we represent are the last glimmer of hope for many,” she noted, calling on the global community to safeguard the rule of law over the rule of power.
In her words, she stressed the ICC’s pivotal role in upholding justice and human rights, asserting that global commitment is essential to sustaining the Court’s operations amid adversity.
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