UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY PLENARY MEETING: REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
30 October 2023
Statement by H.E. Mr James Larsen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
Thank you, President.
Thank you also to President Hofmanski for your briefing on the important work of the International Criminal Court over the past year.
President,
Twenty-five years ago, in the wake of the terrible atrocities committed in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, States came together to create the first permanent international criminal court.
Since then, the Court has become a vital part of the international community’s efforts to seek accountability for serious international crimes.
This is why Australia was pleased to co-sponsor today’s resolution. We welcome continued cooperation between the Court and the United Nations towards our shared goal of peace and security.
President,
Australia remains a steadfast supporter of the Court, its staff and those who serve on its bench. And we are committed to safeguarding the Court’s integrity and independence.
Never has this been more important – in the face of threats to the Court and its officials, as well as to civil society and all those cooperating with it.
The recent cyber-attack against the Court is yet a further example of the threats facing the Court – and one that we unequivocally condemn.
As all of us know, efforts to hinder the work of the Court will not deter the international community’s commitment to justice and accountability, and the important work the Court has to play.
President,
Accountability begins at home. The Court’s work is complementary to our own national efforts.
Australia has demonstrated that we are committed to practicing what we preach in taking national action. We encourage all States to do the same.
As the Assembly of States Parties’ co-focal point on complementarity since 2017, Australia reiterates that this principle is crucial to the Court’s success in achieving its core mandate as a court of last resort in investigating and prosecuting serious international crimes.
At the heart of all efforts in pursuit of truth, justice and accountability stand the victims and survivors.
This is reflected in the more than 15,000 victims that participated in cases before the Court in the past year. It is reflected in the nearly 17,000 individuals that have directly benefited from Court-ordered reparations.
We commend the Trust Fund for Victims for its important work in this regard and similarly support the Court’s survivor-centred approach to accountability for sexual and gender‑based crimes.
President,
We commend the work of the Court over the past year, particularly at a time of increased workload and attempts to interfere with its operations and staff.
We are concerned that there are now arrest warrants outstanding for 16 individuals, and we encourage States to provide the necessary cooperation to the Court to ensure these cases can be heard.
Australia also encourages the United Nations Security Council to do more to support the Court’s implementation of mandates derived from Security Council referrals.
This may include addressing incidents of non-cooperation with the Court or non-enforcement of arrest warrants.
President,
I feel compelled to reiterate Australia’s full support for the resolution on this agenda item today.
The resolution has a long history of being adopted by consensus as a reflection of the international community’s support for the common mission of the Court and the United Nations, shared for the promotion and preservation of international peace and security.
We hope that consensus is maintained this year. If not, we encourage all States to join us in supporting the resolution to this end.
Now more than ever, we need to stand by the rules, norms and institutions that prioritise the peaceful settlement of disputes and deter the commission of atrocity crimes that undermine all three pillars of the United Nations.
Finally, President, it is only through universality of the Rome Statute that the Court can truly deliver on its mandate. We call on those States that have not yet done so to join the Rome Statute.
At a time when the rules-based order itself is under threat, we must continue to support the Court’s role in fighting impunity.
We welcome continued support from the United Nations to the International Criminal Court, so that together we can continue our pursuit of justice, accountability, and peace and security.
Thank you.