Today, 5 June 2014, the Prosecutor of the
International Criminal Court (ICC), Mrs Fatou Bensouda, has published
a Policy Paper on Sexual and Gender-Based Crimes (Policy Paper).
This comprehensive Policy Paper will guide the Office of the
Prosecutor in its work in fighting against impunity for sexual and
gender-based crimes, and promote transparency and clarity, as well as
predictability in the application of the legal framework of the Rome
Statute to such crimes. In turn, the policy will contribute to
ensuring not only the effective investigation and prosecution of
sexual and gender-based crimes, but also to enhancing access to
justice for victims of these crimes, through the ICC. Sexual
and gender-based crimes are among the gravest under the Rome Statute
and investigating and prosecuting such crimes is a key priority for
the Office.
“The Policy Paper provides a foundation which we
can and must all build on to ensure that we deal effectively with the
scourge of sexual and gender-based crimes,” said the Prosecutor.
“We will spare no effort to bring accountability for these crimes
and in so doing, contribute to deterring the commission of such
heinous crimes in the future. As a matter of policy, the Office
will systematically include relevant charges in its cases on the
basis of evidence of criminality. The message to perpetrators
and would-be perpetrators must be clear: sexual violence and
gender-based crimes in conflict will neither be tolerated nor ignored
at the ICC.”
The Policy Paper was promulgated following a process
of extensive consultations, gathering input from staff in the Office,
the Prosecutor’s Special Gender Advisor, as well as a wide-range of
other sources, including States Parties, international organisations,
civil society, academia and individual experts.
“Each of us has a role to play. It is hoped
that the Policy will also serve as a guide to national authorities in
the exercise of their primary jurisdiction to hold perpetrators
accountable for these crimes. United in our efforts, we can end the
silence that has surrounded sexual and gender-based crimes for far
too long and give victims the ultimate tool in in combatting such
crimes: a voice backed by the force of the law,” said Prosecutor
Bensouda.
http://www.icc-cpi.int/en_menus/icc/press%20and%20media/press%20releases/Pages/pr1011.aspx
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