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Latest Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,<\/b><\/p>\n
Mr. Dennis Francis,<\/b><\/p>\n
at the High level plenary meeting on addressing the existential threats posed by sea-level rise<\/b><\/p>\n
[As Delivered]<\/b><\/p>\n
16 January 2024<\/b><\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/i><\/p>\n
Distinguished Delegates,<\/i><\/p>\n
Thank you all for your valued support at the briefing this morning, and also for prioritizing the urgent need to address the existential threats posed by sea-level rise.<\/p>\n
In doing so you are standing firmly with the most vulnerable and acutely affected communities, especially those in Small Island Developing States and countries with low-lying coastal areas.<\/p>\n
We hear varied personal accounts and real stories of the dangers and risks posed by these threats ranging from irrecoverable loss of ancestral lands, as well as the loss of the rich culture and heritage, not to mention the lasting destabilization of livelihoods.<\/p>\n
Now is not the time to stand idle and watch \u2013 but rather, for this General Assembly to act deliberately and in solidarity with those on the frontlines of this problematic phenomenon of sea level rise.<\/p>\n
I, therefore, look forward to open, transparent, and inclusive consultations in the General Assembly towards finalizing the organizational arrangements and modalities of the proposed 25 September high-level plenary meeting.<\/p>\n
This meeting will be\u00a0exceptionally<\/b>\u00a0held on the sidelines of the General Debate of the seventy-ninth session of the Assembly in order to accommodate the schedules of Heads of State and Government, and other high-ranking delegates.<\/p>\n
I am confident that, together, we can chart a path toward an action-oriented outcome that would prevent, protect, and resolve the untenable situations arising out of sea level rise.<\/p>\n
I thank you.<\/b><\/p>\n
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Latest Remarks by the President of the General Assembly, Mr. Dennis Francis, at the High level plenary meeting on addressing the existential threats posed by sea-level rise [As Delivered] 16 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":375,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"
Remarks of the President of the General Assembly<\/p>\r\n
H.E Dennis Francis<\/p>\r\n
GA plenary meeting on the
Report of the International Criminal Court,<\/p>\r\n
Monday, 30 October 2023<\/p>\r\n
As Delivered<\/i><\/i><\/p>\r\nPresident of the International Criminal Court, Judge Piotr Hofmanski,<\/i><\/i>\r\n\r\nExcellencies,<\/i>\r\n\r\nDistinguished Delegates,<\/i>\r\n\r\n\u00a0<\/i>\r\n\r\nToday we gather to consider the annual report of the\u00a0International Criminal Court (ICC) \u2013 a\u00a0 critical pillar of the international legal order.\r\n\r\nThe ICC stands as a perennial symbol of our shared commitment to justice and humanity\u2019s greatest aspirations.\r\n\r\nIt serves as an emphatic reminder that\u00a0no one \u2013 I repeat, no one \u2013 should be exempt from accountability for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community,\u00a0and that regardless of their status, position or location, perpetrators of such crimes will invariably face the weight of justice.\r\n\r\nIndeed, when it comes to the most egregious crimes against humanity,\u00a0 accountability knows no exceptions and justifiably so.\r\n\r\nIn those grave and heinous cases \u2013 when national legal systems prove unable or unwilling to bring perpetrators to justice \u2013 the ICC must step in.\r\n\r\nAccordingly, the ICC stands as a testament to our unshakeable resolve to end impunity, and moreover, to deter others from the commission of such crimes in the future.\r\n\r\nThe Court is indeed a truly unique embodiment of our collective resolution to upholding the principles of justice and accountability.\r\n\r\nI express my\u00a0 fulsome appreciation to the Court for its diligent efforts,\u00a0 as indeed to its judges and its prosecutor, as well as to the dedicated staff who have laudibly committed themselves to the pursuit of justice \u2013 and indeed, to what is\u00a0right<\/i>.\r\n\r\nThe report highlights both the progress and the challenges faced by the ICC this year, specifically as regards the prevention and punishment of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.\r\n\r\nThese principles are fundamental to our global vision of peace and are integral to our mission of maintaining international peace and security, promoting respect for human rights, and delivering justice to those who have suffered the gravest injustices.\r\n\r\nLadies and Gentlemen,<\/i>\r\n\r\nWe must acknowledge that the Court operates in a multifaceted international landscape.\r\n\r\nIts jurisdiction spans cases where state parties have brought situations to the attention of the Court, including situations referred by the United Nations Security Council.\r\n\r\nWhile it may present a unique set of challenges \u2013this duality in referral mechanisms underscores the importance of international cooperation.\r\n\r\nDespite these challenges, the hope for universal ratification of the Rome Statute, and the Kampala amendments, serve as a profound affirmation of the ICC's enduring commitment to justice.\r\n\r\nAs more countries join and support the ICC, the bold ambition of ending impunity for the most serious crimes becomes increasingly realistic to achieve.\r\n\r\nAs we engage in this discussion, let us remember the voices of the victims, whose suffering must compel us to take meaningful action.\r\n\r\nI underscore the\u00a0need for universal cooperation with the court among Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Member States in our common pursuit of a more just and peaceful world.\r\n\r\nI call upon States to support the ICC where it faces constraints in its pursuit of justice, including predictable funding to effectively undertake its investigations and prosecutions.\r\n\r\nIn line with the fundamental principle of complementarity, States should cooperate\u00a0with the ICC and with each other in investigations and prosecutions, including by sharing information and evidence to uphold the rule of law and ensuring accountability for the most serious crimes.\r\n\r\nLet us remain committed to strengthening the international legal framework and ensuring that the ICC continues to fulfill its essential role in our global efforts to prevent impunity and injustice and to promote lasting peace.\r\n\r\nI thank you and look forward to a fruitful discussion on this important matter.","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[81],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-275113","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n