NEW YORK, OCTOBER 31 – Always at the forefront of the development of an effective international criminal justice system, Italy will continue to do its part to support the International Criminal Court, including by increasing its voluntary contribution – both financial and in terms of personnel – committed to assist the Court’s investigations, the Deputy Permanent Representative Gianluca Greco during a General Assembly Debate on the President of the ICC’s latest report.
Last January Italy deposited the instrument of ratification of the Kampala Amendments, which strengthen the capacity of the Rome Statute system to promote accountability, including for the crime of aggression and on March 2, alongside more than 40 States, referred the situation in Ukraine to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.
During the reporting period, approximately 13,000 victims participated in cases before the Court, with 2,300 new victim application forms. Italy welcomed the prominence that reparations to victims are gaining in the Court’s work, as it is convinced that the focus on victims is an essential element of international criminal justice. For this reason, also this year, Italy has decided to contribute to the Trust Fund for Victims.
“Italy considers the Court an indispensable institution and a bulwark against impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community”, added Greco, welcoming the significant progress made by the Court in a number of investigations and proceedings, as highlighted in the President’s report. States Parties can – and must – contribute to consolidate this momentum, he added: “That implies a renewed commitment to preserving the integrity of the Rome Statute, promoting its universality, respecting the independence of the Court and ensuring that it is well equipped to carry out its mandate”.
Noting with concern the serious challenges that the Court continues to face in relation to its requests for cooperation, including for the execution of its outstanding arrest warrants, Greco called on States parties to comply with their obligations under the Rome Statute. (@OnuItalia)
