Statement of the President of the International Criminal Court, Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, on the occasion of Human Rights Day

"Today, the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or the "Court") joins people across the world in marking Human Rights Day, which commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 1948 and is a day for us all to stand up for human rights. As always, on this day, our thoughts remain with the victims of human rights violations wherever they are in the world.

The ICC exists precisely to stand up firmly for human rights: by demanding accountability when violations take the shape of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, or crime of aggression – where the ICC has jurisdiction.

We call upon the youth of the world to join us in that mission, for a better future and a safer world of respect for human rights. More specifically, we call upon them to join in our call upon all nations of the world to ratify or accede to the Rome Statute as a matter of priority, in order to extend its protection for humanity all over the world."

For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or +31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: [email protected]

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