Declaration by the High Representative, Federica Mogherini, on behalf of the European Union on the occasion of the Day of International Criminal Justice, 17 July 2016:
Justice is one of the pillars of our societies: it safeguards equality, cohesion, resilience. International Criminal Justice Day is the occasion to remember those who are seeking justice for appalling crimes, including crimes against humanity, and the many dedicated and courageous individuals who work in the field of international justice.
An international system of criminal justice – complementing and reinforcing national justice systems – is essential to deter those contemplating the most serious crimes, to enable victims to obtain justice and redress, to rebuild nations ravaged by war and to support post-conflict reconciliation.
17 July marks the date when the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court was first adopted in 1998. The EU and its Member States remain committed to promoting the efforts to end impunity for the most heinous atrocities and encourage the universal acceptance of the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
