{"id":241462,"date":"2021-05-03T12:00:21","date_gmt":"2021-05-03T10:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.npwj.org\/?p=241462"},"modified":"2023-03-31T17:16:34","modified_gmt":"2023-03-31T15:16:34","slug":"open-letter-on-the-independence-of-the-international-criminal-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.npwj.org\/it\/press-release\/open-letter-on-the-independence-of-the-international-criminal-court\/","title":{"rendered":"Open letter on the independence of the International Criminal Court"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Attempts to discredit the international criminal court and obstruct its work cannot be tolerated if we are serious about upholding justice globally, write more than 50 former prime ministers, foreign ministers and senior international officials, including Emma Bonino.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

We welcome the support that European leaders have expressed for the ICC and its unique mandate of advancing justice following war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Consistent support for the ICC and promotion of its universal reach highlight Europe\u2019s serious commitment to deter such violations and to promote a rules-based international order, peace and security.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

It is clear that Europe has long benefited from multilateralism rooted in international law and the institutions that uphold it. Now, in a time of increasing challenges to the multilateral order and an independent judiciary in many corners of the world\u00a0and\u00a0within Europe\u00a0itself, preserving the ICC\u2019s legitimacy and mandate becomes an imperative.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

We regret to see increasing attacks on the ICC, its staff and cooperating civil society groups. We witnessed with serious concern the executive order issued in the United States by the former President Donald Trump and the sanctions designated against the Court\u2019s staff and their family members.\u00a0Deeply worrying is now\u00a0\u00a0the unwarranted public criticism of the Court regarding its investigation of alleged crimes committed in the occupied Palestinian territory, including unfounded accusations of anti-Semitism.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

It is well established and recognized that accountability for serious rights violations by all sides to a conflict is essential for achieving a sustainable and lasting peace. This is the case in Israel-Palestine, just as in Sudan, Libya, Afghanistan, Mali, Bangladesh\/Myanmar, Colombia, and Ukraine. Where there is no accountability for grave human rights violations, it is the victims seeking justice and people longing for lasting peace that are paying the price.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Attempts to discredit the Court and obstruct its work cannot be tolerated if we are serious about promoting and upholding justice globally.\u00a0We understand fears of politically motivated complaints and investigations. Yet we strongly believe that the Rome Statute guarantees the highest criteria of justice and provides a crucial avenue to address impunity for the world\u2019s most serious crimes. Failure to act would have grave consequences.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In this context, we stress the importance of all European governments firmly supporting the independence of the ICC and shielding the institution and its staff from any external pressures or threats. That includes refraining from public criticism of the ICC\u2019s decisions, which could contribute to undermining the independence of the Court and public trust in its authority.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

We welcome the Biden administration\u2019s decision to rescind the executive order and lift the sanctions against the ICC. This will set grounds for opportunities to work on strengthening international justice institutions and norms together with our key transatlantic ally.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The ICC is a vital part of the rules-based international order. Now more than ever, Europe must lead by example in protecting the Court\u2019s independence.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Douglas Alexander<\/strong>, Former Minister of International Development, United Kingdom<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Jean-Marc Ayrault<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister and Prime Minister, France<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Hans Blix<\/strong>,\u00a0Former\u00a0Foreign\u00a0Minister,\u00a0Former\u00a0Director General\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0IAEA, Sweden<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Emma Bonino<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Former Minister for European Affairs, and Former European Commissioner; Head of the EU Delegation to the Rome Diplomatic Conference that established the ICC,\u00a0Founder of No Peace Without Justice, Italy\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Ben Bradshaw<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Minister of State for the Middle East, United Kingdom<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Gro Harlem Brundtland<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Prime Minister, Norway<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

John Bruton<\/strong>, Former Prime Minister, Ireland<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Micheline Calmy-Rey<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister and President, Switzerland<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Ingvar Carlsson<\/strong>, Former Prime Minister, Sweden<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Gunilla Carlsson<\/strong>, Former Minister for International Development Cooperation, Sweden<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Lord Menzies Campbell<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, United Kingdom<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Willy Claes<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister and NATO Secretary General, Belgium<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Joe Costello<\/strong>,\u00a0Former\u00a0Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ireland<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Massimo d\u2019Alema<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister and Prime Minister, Italy<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Teresa Patr\u00edcio de Gouveia<\/strong>, Former Foreign Minister, Portugal<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Karel de Gucht<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister and European Commissioner, Belgium<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Ruth Dreifuss<\/strong>,\u00a0former President, Switzerland<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Alan Duncan<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Minister of State for Europe and the Americas and Minister of State for International Development, United Kingdom<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Espen Barth Eide<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister, Norway<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Jan Eliasson<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister and UN General Assembly President, Sweden<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Uffe Ellemann-Jensen<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister and President of the European Liberals, Denmark\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Benita Ferrero-Waldner<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister and European Commissioner for External Relations, Austria<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Charles Flanagan<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ireland<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Sigmar Gabriel<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister and Vice-Chancellor, Germany<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Bj\u00f8rn Tore Godal<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister, Norway<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Bertel Haarder<\/strong>,\u00a0President of the Nordic Council, former Minister for European Affairs and Minister of the Interior, Denmark<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Peter Hain<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Minister for the Middle East, United Kingdom<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Lena Hjelm-Wall\u00e9n<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Sweden<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Lionel Jospin<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Prime Minister, France<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Tom Kitt,<\/strong>\u00a0Former Minister of State for Overseas Development and Human Rights, Ireland\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Lord Neil Kinnock<\/strong>,\u00a0Former European Commissioner, Former\u00a0Leader\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0the\u00a0Labour Party,\u00a0United Kingdom<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Bert Koenders<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister, the Netherlands<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Yves Leterme<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister and Prime Minister, Belgium<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Martin Liedegaard<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister, Denmark<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Mogens Lykketoft<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister and UN General Assembly President, Denmark<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Senator Michael McDowell<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Minister of Justice and Former Attorney General, Ireland<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Per Stig M\u00f8ller<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister, Denmark<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Holger K. Nielse<\/strong>n,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister, Denmark<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Baroness Lindsay Northover<\/strong>, Former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development, United Kingdom\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Andrzej Olechowski<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister, Poland<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Marc Otte<\/strong>,\u00a0Former EU Special Representative to the Middle East Peace Process, Belgium<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Ana Palacio<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister, Spain<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Chris Patten<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Vice-President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for External Relations, United Kingdom<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Jacques Poos<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister, Luxembourg<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Mary Robinson<\/strong>,\u00a0Former President and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ireland<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Soraya Rodriguez<\/strong>,\u00a0Former\u00a0Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Spain<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Robert Serry<\/strong>,\u00a0Former UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, the Netherlands<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Javier Solana<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister, NATO Secretary General and EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Spain<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Erkki Tuomioja<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister, Finland<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Ivo Vajgl<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister, Slovenia<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Jozias van Aartsen<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister, the Netherlands<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Hubert V\u00e9drine<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Foreign Minister, France<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Joris Voorhoeve<\/strong>, Former leader of the Liberal Party VVD and Former Minister of<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Defence, the Netherlands<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Margot Wallstr\u00f6m<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sweden<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi<\/strong>,\u00a0Former Cabinet Minister and Foreign Office Minister for the United Nations, Human Rights and the ICC, United Kingdom<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Read also:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n