Mr. President,

I have the honour to introduce this afternoon under agenda item 76 the draft resolution entiteld “Report of the International Criminal Court”.

In addition to the 100 countries mentioned in document A/62/L.13, the following countries have indicated their wish to be included as cosponsors of the resolution: Afghanistan, Chad, Chile, Guinea, Haiti, Madagascar, Montenegro and Saint Kitts and Nevis. This brings the total number of cosponsors for this resolution to 108.

Mr. President,

On November 1, the President of the International Criminal Court presented the third annual report of the International Criminal Court to this body. We had a very constructive and in depth debate then and I do not want to repeat that discussion here today. Allow me though, Mr. President, to highlight a few elements.

The establishment of the Court was the most significant development in recent years in our long and ongoing struggle to eradicate impunity. In the few years that it has been operational, the Court has, in the words of the UN Secretary General in his statement marking the 5th anniversary of the Court, “established itself as the centrepiece of a system of international justice”. In that regard we will continue to strive for universal adherence to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. We are therefore very pleased to welcome the countries who have recently become a Party to the Rome Statute and it is our sincere hope that others will join soon.

Mr. President,

The International Criminal Court annual report as well as the debate in the General Assembly a few weeks ago underlined the important role the International Criminal Court plays in our common multilateral system that aims to end impunity and to establish the rule of law, to promote and encourage respect for human rights and to restore and maintain international peace and security. It is our firm conviction that sustainable peace cannot be achieved if perpetrators of the most serious crimes are not brought to justice. Peace and justice are thus complementary requirements.

The President of the International Criminal Court in his address to the General Assembly stressed the fact that cooperation between the Court and the United Nations and cooperation by States and international and regional organisations are fundamental to an effectively and efficiently functioning Court. Especially in relation to arrest and surrender of accused persons, the provision of evidence, the relocation of witnesses and the enforcement of sentences. We are pleased that the UN has assisted the Court over the last year again in its endeavours through implementation of the Relationship Agreement. We also welcome the assistance provided so far not only by States Parties, but also non States Parties and call on all States to continue to support the Court’s efforts in that regard. The continuous support of civil society deserves to be mentioned as well.

Mr President,

The resolution before us today serves three main objectives:

Firstly, to provide political support for the International Criminal Court as an organisation, for its mandate, its aims, as well as for the work it carries out.

Secondly, to underline the importance of the relationship between the International Criminal Court and the UN, which the two organisations continue to build on the basis of the Relationship Agreement.

Lastly, it serves to remind States and international and regional organisations of the need to cooperate with the International Criminal Court in carrying out its tasks.

The Netherlands hopes that this resolution will be adopted by consensus, and that it will lead to even greater support for the International Criminal Court in its fight against impunity and its attempts to hold those accused of very serious crimes accountable for their actions.

Thank you Mr. President.