Fatou Bensouda, prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, called on Friday 29 May for the EU and its Member States to support her institution.
While her office is subject to criticism and threats, particularly from the US administration, regarding the ICC’s actions in Afghanistan and Palestine (see EUROPE 12231/22), “it is important that the EU maintains and strengthens its support for the Court”, she told the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights.
“We will accomplish our task, respecting the mandate given to us by the States parties. More than ever, the Court needs an expression of unequivocal and very clear messages against unprecedented threats, against the undermining of our Court’s activities”, she insisted.
Mrs Bensouda listed the many ways in which the EU and States could support the Court: honouring the universality of the Rome Statute and ensuring that legislation is implemented and that the Court can carry out its work, including in terms of communication, arresting individuals under arrest warrants, and ensuring the protection of victims.
Mrs Bensouda called on the EU to continue its financial support. According to a 2019 EU Council report, the EU has provided more than €40 million to the ICC since its establishment and has contributed €1 million directly to the ICC’s outreach activities every year since 2012. The Court’s programme budget for 2020 was just over €149 million.
“There are many conflicts in the world, with mass atrocities. We have a job to do now more than ever. The institution must be strengthened to cope with all the requests that come to it”, Mrs Bensouda said, adding that the institution’s credibility had arrived at “a pivotal moment”.
The appeal was heard by MEPs and the European External Action Service, who expressed support for the work of the ICC. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)