NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 4TH- The Representative of the Permanent Delegation of Italy at the United Nations, Ambassador Zappia, intervened today at the General Assembly debate on the relationship with the International Criminal Court.
“I cannot emphasize enough the importance of the principles and purposes that inspire the Rome Statute system, including the impartiality and independence of the Court, as well as the continuing relevance of the binding norms of international law that are codified in the Rome Statute, ” said the Ambassador, affirming “Italy’s strong support for the International Criminal Court and its activities”.
In her address, Zappia underlined how “the Court is a judicial body of last resort that operates only in cases where national jurisdictions are unable or unwilling to prosecute. The primary responsibility to prosecute and adjudicate the most heinous crimes lies with States, in particular, through their national judicial institutions. Our task is to work together through capacity-building, technical assistance and other forms of cooperation, including judicial cooperation… Italy supports any step undertaken in cooperation with the Court to improve its efficiency and effectiveness, while duly avoiding encroachment upon the Court’s impartiality and independence”.
Italy hosted the intergovernmental conference that brought to the adoption of the Rome Statute, and was among the first signatories. Operating since 2002 -year in which the Statute entered into force with its venue in The Hague- the International Criminal Court is is as integral a part of the United Nations as the Security Council or General Assembly, and the first permanent international judicial body capable of persecuting those responsible for war crimes, genocides, crimes against humanity and of aggression. The Rome Statute counts today 122 member states. (SB@OnuItalia)
