Day of International Criminal Justice is annually observed across the globe on 17 July by the International Criminal Court (ICC), to mark the anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute in 1998, the founding treaty of the ICC.
- The day promotes international criminal justice and highlights the role of civil society in ensuring that ICC member states fulfill their obligations.
- 17th July 2024 marks the 26th anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute.
Significance:
i.Day of International Criminal Justice 2024 emphasises the rights and voices of victims of mass atrocities.
ii.It ensures their meaningful involvement and participation in international criminal proceedings from the early stages.
2024 Commemorative Event:
i.To commemorate the Day of International Criminal Justice, a panel discussion entitled “Truth, Memory, and Justice: Engaging Victims of mass atrocities in international criminal justice” was organised at the United Nations(UN)’s headquarters in New York, the United States of America(USA).
iii.A panel discussion was also organised by the President of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to the Rome Statute, Ms. Päivi Kaukoranta (Finland).
Note: ASP is the ICC’s management oversight and legislative body of the Rome Statute system, and is composed of States that have ratified or acceded to the Rome Statute.
Background:
i.The treaty of the Rome Statute of the ICC (Rome Statute) was adopted on 17 July 1998 by the UN Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries (UNDCP) held in Rome, Italy.
ii.This treaty, the legal basis for establishing the ICC was adopted by 120 States. It entered into force on 1 July 2002, on which the Court became operational.
iii.At the first Review Conference of the Rome Statute held in Kampala, Uganda in 2010, the States Parties of the ICC decided to commemorate 17 July as the Day of International Criminal Justice.
Additional info:
i.ICC has no power to investigate events that took place before 1 July 2002.
ii.As of February 2024, 124 countries are States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC. 31 States have signed the Rome Statute but have not ratified it yet. 2 States have withdrawn from the Rome Statute: Burundi and The Philippines.
The Justice Matters Campaign:
i.A new Justice Matters social media campaign was launched jointly by the ICC and the President of the ASP, to commemorate the International Criminal Justice Day 2024.
ii.The campaign aims to raise awareness about international justice and connect advocates for a more just and peaceful world.
About the International Criminal Court (ICC):
President– Judge Tomoko Akane (Japan)
Headquarters– The Hague, The Netherlands
