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31 October 2022

¡°The hope of impunity is the greatest inducement?to do wrong.¡±

Ladies and Gentlemen, it was said by the Roman statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero?21 centuries ago.

Apparently, the exemption of certain people from justice has been a problem?for quite some time¡­

President Hofma¨½ski,

Excellencies,

Distinguished delegates,

Thank you for joining today¡¯s debate on the annual Report of the International Criminal Court.

The ICC, which is celebrating its 20^th?anniversary, was founded on principles?shared by?the United Nations.

The promotion of a universal culture that respects and upholds the rule of law, human rights, and human dignity.?

La Cour P¨¦nale Internationale a ¨¦t¨¦ cr¨¦¨¦e?pour lutter contre l’impunit¨¦, en tenant pour responsables ceux qui commettent les crimes les plus graves.

Elle a ¨¦t¨¦ cr¨¦¨¦e pour rendre justice et offrir r¨¦paration, indispensables, aux victimes de ces crimes les plus graves.

?

(French translation?: It was established?to combat impunity, holding those who perpetrate the gravest crimes accountable.

It was created to deliver the much-needed justice and redress to the victims of those most serious crimes.)

Today, the ICC is an intrinsic part of the fabric of the multilateral system.? It is a?central?institution of the global justice system. More than that, a?key?institution.

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(Arabic translation: In these troubled times, we see especially clearly how important it is that the rule of law be kept and protected. )

Critical institutions like the ICC send a clear message that there should be?no place?in 2022 for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.

§¯§à, §Ü §ã§à§Ø§Ñ§Ý§Ö§ß§Ú§ð, §Ü§à§Ô§Õ§Ñ §ä§Ñ§Ü§Ú§Ö §ã§à§Ò§í§ä§Ú§ñ §á§â§à§Ú§ã§ç§à§Õ§ñ§ä, §Þ§Ö§Ø§Õ§å§ß§Ñ§â§à§Õ§ß§à§Ö §ã§à§à§Ò§ë§Ö§ã§ä§Ó§à §Õ§à§Ý§Ø§ß§à §ä§Ó§×§â§Õ§à §Ù§Ñ§Ó§Ö§â§Ú§ä§î, §é§ä§à §Ó§Ú§ß§à§Ó§ß§Ú§Ü§Ú §Ò§å§Õ§å§ä §á§â§Ú§Ó§Ý§Ö§é§Ö§ß§í §Ü §à§ä§Ó§Ö§ä§ã§ä§Ó§Ö§ß§ß§à§ã§ä§Ú.

(Russian translation: But when they unfortunately do occur, the international community must reaffirm that it will hold perpetrators accountable.)??

In recent years the Court has embarked on an important process of reflection and reform.?

As has been discussed in these halls, reform is not a bad thing. ¡°Fear not?to reform¡± ¨C was said by another ancient philosopher, Confucius as early as?25 centuries ago.

Indeed, it is crucial for an institution to hold a mirror up to itself and to have an honest, transparent conversation about what it can do better. I commend the States Parties of the ICC on their efforts.

We all want to see a successful ICC that?sets, and then?protects, the highest legal and professional standards.?

A Court that is?a paragon?of governance and institutional culture.?

A Court that holds those guilty of the gravest crimes accountable and serves both as?a deterrent?and as?a model?for domestic criminal law systems.?

I call on all of you to support the ICC¡¯s important mission and to achieve the ultimate goal: the?universal?ratification of the Rome Statue.?

I look forward to a meaningful debate today.

A debate that will continue to strengthen the relations between the United Nations and the Court and contribute to?ending impunity?once and for all.

I thank you.