On 3 November 2026, the President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, Ambassador Päivi Kaukoranta, convened an event entitled “International Criminal Justice: For the Sake of Future Generations”, at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, in cooperation with the Trust Fund for Victims.
The event was honoured by the participation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr Volker Türk, who provided the key note speech setting the context with his remarks focused on the lasting harms of crimes, the importance of intergenerational justice and of accountability as a measure of securing human rights in the future. As he remarked: “If accountability is to protect present and future generations, we must defend the institutions that make this possible (…). The ICC is an essential piece of the international human rights ecosystem, supported by the vast majority of United Nations Member States”. The address of the High Commissioner was followed by the remarks of Judge Rosario Salvatore Aitala, First Vice-President of the International Criminal Court and a panel event featuring Ms Nazhat Shameem Khan, Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court along with representatives of the victim communities and of the youth.; Mr Andres Parmas, President of the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims provided closing remarks.
Participants in the event included States Parties, Court officials and civil society actors. The discussions, highlighted the importance of accountability, reparations, the preservation of memory and the prevention of future atrocities. Particular attention was devoted to the role of victims and young people in shaping the future of international justice, and to the contribution of reparative measures to restoring dignity, mitigating the long-term consequences of international crimes, promoting reconciliation and strengthening the foundations for lasting peace.
The President of the Assembly of States Parties, Ambassador Päivi Kaukoranta, in commenting on the event, stated that:
“International criminal justice is not only about addressing the gravest crimes committed in the past. It is also about shaping the future we wish to leave to generations to come : a future in which the rule of law prevails over impunity, accountability over indifference, and cooperation over division”.
The Assembly of States Parties is the management oversight and legislative body of the ICC. It is comprised of representatives of States that have ratified and acceded to the Rome Statute.
For additional information please contact the Assembly of States Parties via email at asp@icc-cpi.int.