On July 17, the world observes the Day of International Criminal Justice, or just the Day of International Justice. It is celebrated to mark the anniversary of the International Criminal Court’s founding treaty, the Rome Statute, which was adopted on this day in 1998. Four years later the ICC was established as an independent judicial institution empowered to investigate and prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and the crime of aggression. It started operation in 2003.
Interestingly, the US is not a state party to the Rome Statute. It participated in the 5 weeks of intense negotiations that produced the ICC but was one of only seven nations – along with China, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Qatar, and Yemen – that voted against the Statute. Currently, 123 nations are members of the court based in The Hague, Netherlands. Of them, 33 are from Africa, 19 from Asia-Pacific, 18 from Eastern Europe, 28 from Latin America and the Caribbean, and 25 from Western Europe and North America.
What is #17July? The Day of International Criminal Justice.
On this day in 1998, the Rome Statute was adopted. This international treaty produced the #ICC and the @TFVictims. Share this video about our history: https://t.co/XxbK6HkKhm#MoreJustWorldpic.twitter.com/LABz7OQCQA— Int’l Criminal Court (@IntlCrimCourt) July 16, 2021
The celebration is an work to bring collectively individuals who help justice and help in stopping crime that threatens peace, security and well-being.
Theme And Goal
The ICC has launched a digital campaign by means of its social media accounts to mark the day on the theme of constructing a “More Just World”. It mentioned the campaign aims to encourage individuals to “reflect, act, learn and connect for the cause of peace and justice”. In line with the campaign, the Twitter deal with of the Court has hashtagged each tweet about the theme.
It has a devoted net web page for individuals to get involved and get inspired by reading stories of genuine-life survivors working for peace and providing back to their communities right after facing conflict.
According to Human Rights Watch, the ICC has so far opened more than two dozen instances, and pre-trial or trial proceedings are ongoing in 3 instances. But it faces steep challenges in carrying out its mandate in absence of a police force. It has to rely on states for cooperation in arrests.