ICC Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, participates in the Munich Security Conference: “The 21st century must increasingly cultivate global norms against impunity for atrocity crimes as a key component of national and global security”
The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or the "Court"), Fatou Bensouda, attended the 55th edition of the Munich Security Conference, held from 15 to 17 February 2019 in Munich, Germany. The Prosecutor's participation aimed to bring to the Conference's high-level discussions much-needed attention on accountability for atrocity crimes, and build support for the operations of her Office.
"To protect civilians from the suffering inflicted by mass atrocities, the institutions created to ensure a rules-based global order and accountability, are key components of today's global security efforts and response mechanisms. They need to be strengthened and fully supported, not undermined", stated Prosecutor Bensouda.
The Rome Statute system, with the ICC as a central pillar and court of last resort, is the tangible manifestation of joint resolve by the Court's founding states and current States Parties to create a culture of accountability for the world's most heinous crimes. "Atrocity crimes that shock the conscience of humanity are a threat to peace, security and stability", emphasised the Prosecutor. She added that while the Court "is not bereft of challenges, as a Prosecuting office committed to excellence, we continue to forge ahead, learning from experiences and making adjustments where necessary to advance the goals of the Rome Statute. We are achieving successes with respect to our cases as well as in the field, where for instance, national proceedings have been catalysed in the context of our preliminary examination work. Ending impunity worldwide, through independent and impartial investigations and prosecutions, must surely become a globally shared objective, for the sake of victims, and humanity as a whole."
Prosecutor Bensouda also participated in a side-event organised by the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, examining, in a solution-oriented discussion, how to protect people from genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
"It is ordinary people who suffer from the catastrophic effects of war and conflict. The destructive effects and the horrific stories of victims of mass atrocities must compel us to ensure the continued application of Rome Statute norms", stated the Prosecutor.
In the margins of the Conference, Prosecutor Bensouda held meetings with senior officials from States, regional and international organizations, as well as civil society, to build support, advance cooperation, and/or operational interests relating to the Office's ongoing preliminary examinations and investigations. The Prosecutor met, among others, with H.E. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda; The Honourable Sheikh Hasina Wazed, Prime Minister of Bangladesh; H.E. Fayez M. al_Sarraj, Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord of Libya; H.E. John D. Mahama, former President of Ghana and current Chairman of the Tana Forum; H.E. Aurelia Frick, Foreign Minister of Liechtenstein; H.E. Karin Kneissl, Foreign Minister of Austria; H.E. Thomas Greminger, Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe; H.E. Henrietta H. Fore, Executive Director of UNICEF; H.E. Ghassan Salamé, Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, and Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch.
In interacting with the media, Prosecutor Bensouda underscored the importance of the work of the Court, and "cooperation, in diplomatic, financial and operational terms" to the effective investigations and prosecutions of crimes under the Rome Statute. She stressed that "the 21st century must increasingly cultivate global norms against impunity for atrocity crimes as a key component of national and global security."
The Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC conducts independent and impartial preliminary examinations, investigations and prosecutions of the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and aggression. Since 2003, the Office has been conducting investigations in multiple situations within the ICC's jurisdiction, namely in Uganda; the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Darfur, Sudan; the Central African Republic (two distinct situations); Kenya; Libya; Côte d'Ivoire; Mali; Georgia and Burundi. Pre-Trial Chamber II is seized of the Prosecutor's request for authorisation to commence an investigation into the situation in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The Office is also conducting preliminary examinations relating to the situations in Bangladesh/Myanmar; Colombia; Guinea; Iraq/UK; Palestine; the Philippines; Nigeria; Ukraine, and Venezuela.