The Rome Statute, the founding document of the International Criminal Court, was adopted on July 17, 1998 and International Justice Day (IJD) marks this day and acts as a reminder of the importance of the ongoing fight against impunity and the urgent need to bring justice to victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
“The strengthening of international criminal justice in the last 20 years, and especially the adoption of the Rome Statute and establishment of the new system of international criminal justice and this great Court, will be viewed as a revolutionary advance for peace and the rule of law,” said William R. Pace, convenor of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court.
IJD should be a reminder to all states that they should commit to fair and impartial justice by supporting the international justice system. IJD is also a reminder for the Court’s strongest advocates, civil society: to stand firm in their original commitment in getting the ICC established, now to advance a Rome Statute system of international justice that works for all.
What can you do?
1) Help spread the word by sharing the #WarAfterWar video from the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC).
Twitter hashtags:
- #IJD2017
- #JusticeMatters
- Build a #MoreJustWorld
- #GlobalJustice
- #JusticeHasNoBorders
2) Call on the Canadian government to:
- Make international justice truly global, for example by supporting participation in the Rome Statute by states that have not yet ratified the treaty.
- Strengthen the International Criminal Court, for example by ensuring that the Court is adequately funded.
- Improve state support for the Rome Statute, for example by setting a good example and taking diplomatic action to improve cooperation by state parties with the ICC.
Email your Member of Parliament (you can find contact information here) or Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Background materials Recent articles from WFMC on the International Criminal Court Resources from the Coalition for the International Criminal Court Learn the story of international justice: For the first time in history, we can bring presidents, generals and rebel leaders to justice. In national courts and through the International Criminal Court.
