Statement of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
On this day, I add my voice to the countless and ever-growing voices of people around the world who say, ‘enough’ as we stand united in a global call to eliminate violence against women.
Our collective efforts can and must lead to tangible change to the archaic thinking and conduct that allow this scourge to persist. Humanity rightly demands the eradication of this blight. As Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, I pledge my commitment to employ the full force of the law under the Rome Statute, to do my part.
We must end impunity for those who commit or allow crimes of violence against women to continue unabated, and by so doing, prevent future crimes. My Office is certainly committed to this task within the framework of the Rome Statute. We have set a strategic priority focus on combatting sexual and gender crimes, and how we concretise this strategic change has been crystallised into a policy paper, first unveiled last June and which I shall officially launch in a few weeks.
For the sake of those precious lives which have been affected; in the name of all the mothers and sisters, daughters and wives whose voices have been silenced; for the voices of courage, and the dignity of those who have suffered and endured violence; for all the future generations of women and girls who deserve protection from acts of violence, until we succeed, we will not give up.
