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• Court provides a means to end a culture of impunity
• ICC promotes human rights and international humanitarian law
• Ireland supports the critical work of the ICC Trust Fund for Victims

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney, T.D., today reiterated Ireland’s support for the International Criminal Court.

In a statement released to mark 17 July, the Day of International Criminal Justice, Minister Coveney said:

“Since its conception, Ireland has been a consistent and strong supporter of the International Criminal Court. I believe that, by its very existence, the Court promotes and upholds not only the rule of law but also provides an essential means of ending a culture of impunity. It contributes in a most fundamental way to the cause of international peace and security”.

Minister Coveney continued:

“The Court, which has faced a number of challenges since its establishment, has become the primary forum for international criminal justice, and is now active across a number of different regions in the world. Ireland remains committed to supporting the effective functioning of the Court as a vehicle for helping to promote human rights and of ensuring respect for international humanitarian law at the highest levels.

One of the primary purposes of the Court is to bring justice and reparations to victims, including women and girls who have suffered gender-based violence. The work of the ICC Trust Fund for Victims, also created under the Rome Statute, is critical in this regard. Ireland has been a consistent supporter of the Trust Fund and I am determined to continue that support.”

The Minister concluded by saying that:

“Ireland, together with our EU partners, supports efforts to ensure the widest possible ratification and implementation of the Rome Statute establishing the Court and look forward to celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute next year."

ENDS
Press Office
17 July 2017

Notes for Editors

The International Criminal Court is the first permanent, treaty-based international criminal court. It was established to help provide justice and accountability in relation to the most serious crimes of concern to the international community. It was created under the Rome Statute which was adopted on 17 July 1998. The Court is a vital element in advancing the protection of human rights for all and to help underpin the United Nations in its role as a promoter and defender of human rights.

The Trust Fund for Victims was also created under the Rome Statue. While the Court is responsible for trying criminal cases involving the crime of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, the Trust Fund was established for the benefit of victims in order to provide physical, psychological and material assistance to victims and their families, and to implement court-ordered reparations awards arising from individual cases before the Court.

Ireland, both directly and as a member of the European Union, provides ongoing support, including funding, for the Court and its work. Ireland has provided funding on a regular basis to the Trust Fund for Victims.