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	Strengthen fight against impunity through ICC, Ban tells States parties by International Criminal Court United Nations   Dec 2010   In an era of accountability, there can be no immunity for serious international crimes, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed today, citing the need to “stay on the offence” to prevail in the fight against impunity.   “At a time when international justice is under attack in many places, we must strengthen our resolve to shut the door on the era of impunity and ensure that in this new era perpetrators truly answer for their crimes,” Mr. Ban told the Ninth Session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The gathering, brings together representatives from the 113 States parties to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, to discuss matters central to the Court"s operation.   “The international community has overwhelmingly embraced the idea that we have entered an age of accountability, and that there can be absolutely no immunity for international crimes,” he told the meeting.   “But make no mistake: to prevail in the fight against impunity, we must stay on the offence,” he added, while underlining the “crucial importance” of States complying with their responsibilities to enforce all outstanding arrest warrants.   The Ninth Session follows the Kampala Review Conference which concluded in June of this year with agreement on a definition and framework for the prosecution of the crime of aggression.   The Secretary-General acknowledged that while the Court does not yet have universal support, “the battle for trust in the ICC” must be won in the courtroom. He urged that trials be conducted expeditiously and transparently “in a manner that instils confidence.”   “The ICC is the centrepiece of our system of international criminal justice,” Mr. Ban said. “If we are serious about combating impunity and promoting accountability, we must support its work.”   “Our generation has the opportunity to decisively advance the cause of justice and prevent horrendous suffering,” Mr. Ban concluded. “If we fail to heed Kampala’s call, we fail humanity.”   The ICC is a permanent court based in The Hague in the Netherlands and tries people accused of the most serious international offences, such as genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Visit the related web page
	UN calls for greater attention to justice for women by Anne-Marie Goetz UN Women   Dec 2010   Access to justice for women is often not given enough attention in both national and international judicial systems, a United Nations official said today, adding that the newly-created UN entity for women will play an important role in promoting justice for women especially in post-conflict situations.   “Justice for women is still an afterthought,” said Anne Marie Goetz, the Chief Advisor on Governance, Peace and Security of the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) at a news conference at UN headquarters to highlight a report by the Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice, an international non-governmental organisation, on gender issues at the International Criminal Court (ICC).   “UN Women [UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women] looking forward will be an important actor within the UN system on women access to justice. It is critical for accountability and for the implementation of national and international commitments on women rights,” she said.   Ms. Goetz said that UN Women will be looking into transitional justice mechanisms such as truth and reconciliation commissions (TRCs) in countries where they are set up. She said a recent analysis of 20 TRCs across the world had found that only in two of them did women make up a third of the commissioners. Women witnesses also remained a minority, she said.   The report card by the Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice on ICC also shows that issues before the Court that affect women have often not been successful, with a significant number of cases on gender-based violence dismissed for lack of sufficient evidence, often because investigations were not thorough enough, according to Brigid Inder, the executive director of the organisation. Visit the related web page
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