In the 20 years since the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) entered into force on 1 July 2002, conflicts around the world have proliferated, the scale of atrocity crimes has grown and impunity for these crimes persists. Conflicts in Myanmar (Burma), Ethiopia, Syria, Yemen, and, most recently, Ukraine have prompted renewed discussions on the effectiveness of the international criminal justice system to deter atrocity crimes and hold perpetrators to account.

Several proposals have been put forward to increase the deterrent effect of justice, including the creation of new tribunals, the reform of the United Nations (UN) system and the Rome Statute, and the codification of new crimes. This event will discuss the role of international tribunals, the UN, and domestic prosecutions, as well as norms and principles, such as the Responsibility to Protect (R2P), in deterring and prosecuting atrocity crimes. The panelists will also examine how lessons learned can inform accountability initiatives related to ongoing atrocity crimes.

Speakers: 
H.E. Mr. Ivan Šimonović, Permanent Representative of Croatia to the UN
Ms. Akila Radhakrishnan, President of the Global Justice Center
Ms. Karen Mosoti, Head of the Liaison Office of the ICC to the UN
Mr. M. Arsalan Suleman, Counsel at Foley Hoag, Counsel for The Gambia in its case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice
Ms. Katherine Gallagher, Senior Staff Attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights
Ms. Savita Pawnday, Executive Director of the Global Centre for R2P (Moderator)