United Nations – France commends the International Criminal Court on its work on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Rome Statute’s entry into force (01 Jul. 2022)

France commends the International Criminal Court (ICC) on its work on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Rome Statute’s entry into force. As the only permanent international criminal court with a universal scope, the ICC plays a key role in the fight against impunity for the perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

During its 20 years of existence, the ICC has, among other achievements, sentenced individuals who have been found guilty of sexual violence, illegal recruitment of child soldiers and destruction of cultural heritage, thereby making it possible to meet the demands for justice made by the victims of these intolerable crimes.

Currently, the ICC is investigating abuses committed in 17 countries, in particular, Ukraine, Darfur and Libya.

France will maintain its unwavering commitment to the ICC, which serves as an essential tool for preventing atrocities and punishing those responsible. We encourage all countries to actively cooperate with the ICC and ratify the Rome Statute.