From 3 to 7 June 2024, the Registrar of the International Criminal Court, Osvaldo Zavala Giler, paid an official visit to Poland and Ukraine, and met with national authorities, United Nations and European Union representatives , members of the diplomatic community, as well as with representatives of Ukrainian NGOs.
During his visit to Poland, Registrar Zavala Giler met with the Minister of Justice of Poland, HE Adam Bodnar, discussing the ICC’s role as a pillar of international rule of law and the need to uphold the values underpinning it.
While in Warsaw, the Registrar also met the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Henryka Mościcka-Dendys. The Registrar underlined that “Poland’s strong political and operational support for the mandate and work of the Court is invaluable”.
The purpose of the ICC Registrar’s visit to Ukraine was to oversee the functioning of the Court’s Country Office in Kyiv, to advance dialogue on cooperation between the ICC and Ukrainian authorities and the ratification by Ukraine of the Rome Statute, as well as to enhance support for the integrity and legitimacy of the Court in all its activities.
In Ukraine, the ICC Registrar was joined by the Executive Director of the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV), Deborah Ruiz Verduzco. The Executive Director’s mission follows the pledge by the TFV Board of Directors last November 2023 to initiate consultations on the feasibility of starting programs in Ukraine, one of the situations under the jurisdiction of the Court where the TFV does not yet have presence.
During a meeting with the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, HE Mr Andriy Kostin, ICC Registrar Zavala Giler and TFV Executive Director Ruiz Verduzco discussed ICC’s victim-centered approach and the TFV mandate of assistance and the opportunities in this regard with respect to Ukraine situation.
They also met with the Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine, HE Oleksandr Banchuk, and exchanged views on the central role of the ICC in the justice and accountability efforts in Ukraine.
Meeting with the Chairman of the Committee of the Foreign Affairs and Interparliamentary Ties of the Parliament of Ukraine, HE Oleksandr Merezhko, ICC Registrar Osvaldo Zavala Giler highlighted “the importance of Ukraine ratifying the Rome Statute and joining the ICC family”.
The ICC Registrar and the Executive Director of the TFV also met with the United Nations (UN) Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Ms Denise Brown, and gratitude was expressed for the support the ICC receives from the UN. The collaboration between the Trust Fund for Victims and other UN agencies and programs advancing responses to victims needs was highlighted.
While in Kyiv, Ukraine, the ICC Registrar and the TFV Executive Director also engaged with staff of the ICC country office, representatives of the European Union and other members of the diplomatic community, as well as with members of civil society.
