On International Criminal Justice Day the EU pays tribute to all those who work tirelessly to uphold justice, accountability, and the rule of law. Today, we remember the victims and survivors of the world's gravest crimes and reaffirm our commitment to ending impunity.

The EU reaffirms its unwavering support for the international criminal justice system, including the International Criminal Court, ad hoc international tribunals, and hybrid criminal judicial bodies. It also reiterates its support for institutions upholding international law, including through the effective protection of international courts and their officials from threats or sanctions.

The International Criminal Court is the cornerstone of the international criminal justice system. It ensures accountability for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole and upholds the rights and dignity of victims. The EU reiterates its firm commitment to the Rome Statute and to the universality, integrity and full implementation of the Rome Statute system, calling upon all States to ensure full cooperation with the Court.

The independence, impartiality and effective functioning of the ICC must be preserved and protected, and the Court must be able to carry out its mandate free from pressure, intimidation or interference. It is of the utmost importance that the Court be able to proceed with ongoing investigations and cases currently under judicial consideration arising from situations across the world.

At a time when violations of international law, including of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, continue to cause immense suffering, accountability remains indispensable for justice, for the prevention of future atrocities, and for sustainable peace.

Justice must place victims at its centre. The rights of victims to truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence are a vital part of international criminal justice.

The European Union will continue to support the ICC and the broader Rome Statute system through political, diplomatic, financial and practical means, including by strengthening national justice systems in line with the principle of complementarity.

On this day, the European Union reaffirms its determination to defend international justice and to fight impunity. There can be no lasting peace without justice, and no justice without accountability and meaningful reparations for victims.