Victims ignored, justice denied – Act Now!

[Day of International Criminal Justice – Global Initiative against Impunity Statement]

On the 27th anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, the Global Initiative Against Impunity reaffirms the essential role of international justice in upholding the international rules-based order. Victims and survivors of atrocity crimes must be at the heart of these processes and have the right to meaningful, equal, and effective access to justice and reparation.

17 July 2025 – In the face of unprecedented threats over the past year, international justice mechanisms have demonstrated resilience and resolve. Nonetheless, we remain deeply concerned about the continued erosion of accountability that jeopardizes victims’ rights and weakens the international rule of law. In many contexts, transitional justice efforts are being undermined or co-opted, failing to confront the root causes of violence or deliver redress to those most affected. We have witnessed selective responses driven by political interests, interference and attacks that threaten the independence, impartiality and effectiveness of judicial bodies. The absence of concrete and coordinated action to preserve the international justice system—often in defiance of States’ obligations under international law—has allowed atrocities to persist and escalate, causing devastating suffering for civilians.

In this difficult context, it is even more inspiring to see the unwavering commitment of human rights defenders and civil society in their fight against impunity, despite the risks they face, sometimes at the cost of their lives. Many have pursued legal action, documented and denounced atrocities, or mobilized international and national solidarity through public demonstrations. Survivors, victims’ groups, and affected communities have taken up the charge to lead efforts to demand truth, justice, and reparation, including guarantees of non-recurrence, even in the absence of institutional support, and the dearth of funding. Such determination for justice to prevail and for perpetrators to be held accountable must remain our shared guiding principles in the pursuit of international justice.

To preserve the international justice system that we have collectively built over decades, we must demonstrate our commitment to human rights and democracy through firm and bold action. This moment demands responsibility from all stakeholders—States and decision-makers, international organizations, and corporate actors—to uphold their international obligations and reinforce the fight against impunity. In particular, the Global Initiative Against Impunity urges all States to deploy every tool at their disposal—legal, political, diplomatic, and economic—to honor their commitments and to:

1. Ensure the safe and equal access of victims and survivors of international crimes, including by supporting meaningful participation in judicial processes and the implementation of reparations frameworks. This includes investing in survivor-centred, trauma-informed mechanisms that go beyond consultation and enable co-creation of justice processes at local, national, regional, and international levels.
2. Take effective and coordinated actions to unequivocally support and strengthen international justice institutions and those who defend them, by adopting legal instruments and other safeguards that adequately protect these bodies and individuals, and by ensuring sustainable financial support.
3. Support UN accountability mechanisms and experts in their efforts to access victims, investigate, protect, advocate for human rights, and bring about justice for international crimes. This includes adopting a firm stance and taking action, including through diplomatic pressure, in response to smear campaigns and attacks against them.
4. Implement decisive measures to prevent international crimes and serious human rights violations, as well as the risk of complicity through activities that benefit from their commission, and ensure accountability for all perpetrators, whether individuals, states, or corporate actors. This includes respecting international legal obligations, complying with the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinions and judgments, and fully cooperating with the International Criminal Court.

On the Day of International Criminal Justice, the Global Initiative Against Impunity reaffirms its commitment to advancing comprehensive justice and accountability for international crimes and serious human rights violations across the globe—including through inclusive, locally rooted transitional justice approaches that challenge structural impunity and foster long-term peace and equality—until justice works, everywhere and for all.

About the Global Initiative Against Impunity:

The Global Initiative Against Impunity for international crimes: Making justice work (GIAI) is a Consortium of eight international NGOs and the Coalition for the ICC, co-funded by the European Union, which aims to contribute to the fight against impunity by supporting a comprehensive, integrated, and inclusive approach to justice and accountability for serious human rights violations and international crimes.