The International Bar Association (IBA), the Ukrainian Bar Association (UBA), the International Services for Human Rights (ISHR), International Federation For Human Rights (FIDH), and Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) have called on States that are party to the Rome Statute to uphold their obligations to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and refrain from undermining the court's authority.

The joint statement was delivered during the 57th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council, which focused on the situation of human rights in Ukraine stemming from the Russian aggression.

The statement emphasized the importance of the ICC's decision in March 2023 to issue an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of war crimes. The organizations urged Rome Statute signatories to fully cooperate with the ICC, particularly in the arrest and surrender of suspects. They expressed disappointment that Mongolia recently failed to meet its obligations under the Statute and called for better compliance in the future to prevent similar instances.

“No one is above the law,” the organizations stressed, calling on States to unite in combating impunity and supporting victims of war crimes.

The organizations highlighted the importance of preserving the integrity of the ICC and called for full cooperation to ensure the court can continue fulfilling its mandate of delivering justice to victims of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.

The statement also strongly condemned the ongoing widespread violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the course of Russia’s war against Ukraine, including recent brutal attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.

The full statement can be accessed via the provided link.

Tags: UBA activities, UBA statements