More than 130 civil society organisations from 56 countries have called on States Parties to the Rome Statute to take collective action to protect the independence of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and safeguard the international justice system. The Foundation Sunflowers has joined the signatories of this statement.
The joint statement, prepared by the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC), comes in response to recent developments that threaten the integrity and effectiveness of the system established by the Rome Statute.
Within the space of just two months, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Venezuela and Chad formally notified the United Nations of their intention to withdraw from the Rome Statute. At the same time, the United States has intensified its attacks on the ICC and the independence of international justice, including through additional sanctions and diplomatic pressure aimed at encouraging States Parties to withdraw from the Rome Statute.
Why does this matter?
The ICC was established to ensure accountability for the most serious international crimes — genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes — where national authorities are unwilling or unable to genuinely investigate and prosecute those responsible.
The weakening of the Rome Statute system can have direct consequences for victims and survivors. Withdrawals may undermine cooperation with the Court, including access to victims and witnesses, as well as the arrest and surrender of suspects. They can also create safe havens in which perpetrators of the most serious crimes may evade accountability.
The signatories therefore call on the five States that have announced their withdrawal to reverse their decisions before they take effect. They also call on States Parties and regional organisations to reject attacks against the ICC, prevent further withdrawals, resist political pressure and reaffirm their commitment to the Rome Statute system.
At the same time, the statement recognises that concerns about fairness and selectivity in international justice must be taken seriously. However, such concerns should be addressed through dialogue, cooperation and efforts to strengthen the international justice system — not through unilateral withdrawals from the Rome Statute.
Victims must remain at the centre
For the Foundation Sunflowers, the statement is particularly important because of its focus on victims and survivors.
The pursuit of accountability is not an end in itself. Victims and survivors need meaningful access to justice, truth and reparations, and international justice mechanisms must remain capable of responding to their rights and needs.
The promise made to victims nearly three decades ago in Rome — that impunity for the most serious international crimes should no longer be the norm — must not be undermined by political pressure or by the weakening of the system created to fulfil that promise.
As a Foundation working to support accountability for international crimes and to strengthen access to justice and reparations for victims, Sunflowers stands with the organisations calling for the protection of the Rome Statute system and the independent work of the ICC.
Read the full statement and the call to action: HERE
