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.