Statement of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator on the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator would like to congratulate the sixty-six countries that have deposited their instruments of ratification for the International Criminal Court. Today's entry into force of the Rome Statute is an historic step forward in international efforts to ensure the protection of civilians in armed conflict.
The establishment of the Court brings within reach the United Nations' calls for the effective enforcement of internationally recognized standards of protection through the regular and reliable sanctioning of their violation. The International Criminal Court will provide the international community with a mechanism through which to combat the trend of impunity for gross violations of international humanitarian law. Accountability for crimes against civilian populations can also serve as a deterrent to those who would commit crimes against civilians caught in armed conflict.