The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court at 20: Achievements, Challenges, and the EU’s Contribution to Accountability and Justice
The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court at 20: Achievements, Challenges, and the EU’s Contribution to Accountability and Justice
Diplomatic Conference, Leuven, 1 June 2018
The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) this year celebrates its 20th anniversary. While much has been achieved, the ICC has had to – and still does – face several major challenges. Nevertheless, thanks to the support of various States Parties and international actors, including the European Union (EU), the ICC continues to make an essential contribution in the fight against impunity. Over these two decades, the EU – whose Member States have all signed and ratified the Rome Statute – has been a powerful ally and staunch supporter of the ICC and of the cause of international justice and accountability for international crimes. As such, it has developed specific conclusions, policies, resolutions and strategies. These include, for instance, its common positions, action plan on, and agreement with, the ICC; its promotion of universal ratification of the Rome Statute (including through ICC clauses in international agreements); its support for the UN Syria accountability mechanism[1]; and its Policy Framework on support to transitional justice.
Yet, the question remains whether the EU’s support for the ICC, accountability and transitional justice processes has been sufficiently effective, and how the EU can continue its support in the most productive manner, given the difficult international context. Likewise, the 20th anniversary of the Rome Statute offers the opportunity to reflect on successes, setbacks and challenges, of the ICC. All of this justifies the focus of this year’s Diplomatic Conference, jointly organizsed by EIUC and the Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies, entitled “The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court at 20: achievements, challenges and the EU’s contribution to accountability and justice”.
This year’s conference is co-organised by EIUC and the Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies, which is kindly hosting the conference in the beautiful Faculty Club in Leuven. As in previous years, the Diplomatic Conference will allow participants from EIUC universities, COHOM and COJUR delegates as well as representatives of the European Union and other international organisations and civil society to brainstorm on the given topic in view of the priorities that should be set by the European Union and its Member States in support of human rights and democratisation as well as in view of other policy issues.
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