Celebration of ”International Criminal Justice Day” by the  Levan Alexidze Foundation

The International Criminal Court Statute was opened for signature in Rome on 17 July 1998. It entered into force 20 years ago, in July 2002. The Levan Alexidze Foundation, in  continuing the tradition established by Academician Levan Alexidze and Professor Ketevan Khutsishvili over a decade ago, this year celebrated the International Criminal Justice Day and 20 years since the entry into force of the Rome Statute by hosting a scientific conference in Tbilisi. This conference was held in cooperation with the Georgian-American University (GAU) within the framework of the project “Protection of people from discrimination: critical analysis of contemporary challenges of Georgia in the light of international obligations” [FR-21-11588], supported by the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia.

Annually, this Day is celebrated to honour all the professionals working for delivering justice to and preserving the human rights of victims of international crimes.

The accomplishments and gaps of the International Criminal Court and, broadly, the international criminal justice mechanisms, were discussed around the protection of victims, cooperation of states and the complementary role of the International Criminal Court, as well as collective referrals and the peculiarities of the Victim Trust Fund.

Discussing the challenges related to the standards of protection regarding victims of international crimes, their vulnerability to discrimination and often high possibility for double or triple discrimination were  highlighted.  In particular, crimes of sexual violence, command responsibility, the destruction of property, as well as challenges related to the use of force, including via cyber activities, accountability of those responsible for restoring and maintaining international peace were topics of thorough academic scrutiny.

Representatives of academia and state authorities deliberated around the process of an emerging culture of accountability for international crimes and the  particular role the International Criminal Court has, to deliver justice for victims of the most egregious crimes and most heinous violations of human rights.

They also discussed   the framework and directions  to further advance research and knowledge around the protection of those who need it  most to be spared further discrimination, and the establishment of  efficient mechanisms for the protection of their rights in the light of the International legal framework.