ICC President Piotr Hofmański was presenting the impartial court docket’s annual report back to the UN in New York. The ICC was established in July 2002 underneath a treaty generally known as the Rome Statute and relies in The Hague, within the Netherlands.

Mr. Hofmański famous that he himself, together with Prosecutor Karim Khan was on the listing, which incorporates six judges of the court docket.

‘Unprecedented attack’

“This is an unprecedented attack on the judicial independence at the international level”, he mentioned, noting that in investigation allegations of great crimes and issuing arrest warrants for the Russian President and his Commissioner for Children’s Rights, the court docket was appearing absolutely inside its mandate.

Mr. Hofmański mentioned he was “very appreciative of the strong support we have received” from States Parties to the court docket, and others.

“Ukraine has made a declaration under article 12 of the Rome Statute, accepting the ICC’s jurisdiction. Therefore, in accordance with the Statute, the ICC has jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed in Ukraine regardless of who the alleged perpetrators are, and what their nationality is.”

Russia shouldn’t be a celebration to the Rome Statute and the consent of any nation dealing with allegations of great crimes shouldn’t be required, he careworn. Neither is there any immunity from prosecution based mostly on political seniority. 

“The Judges and the Prosecutor of the ICC are simply carrying out their mandate as elected officials of an international court with 123 States Parties. I find it unacceptable that my colleagues and I should be subjected to intimidation for that reason”.

He added he was “gravely concerned by a recent cyber-attack” which befell focusing on the court docket’s info programs.

DR Congo displacement nears 7 million, warns UN migration company

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the variety of internally displaced has reached a record 6.9 million amid escalating battle, with humanitarian wants hovering, the UN migration company (IOM) mentioned on Monday.

IOM careworn that the DRC is dealing with “one of the largest” inner displacement and humanitarian crises on the planet and that the newest escalation of the battle has “uprooted more people in less time, like rarely seen before”.

Four in each 5 internally displaced individuals stay within the japanese provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, and Tanganyika. In North Kivu alone, as much as a million individuals have been displaced because of the ongoing battle with the insurgent group M23. 

The UN migration company mentioned that groups have been actively concerned in managing 78 displacement websites internet hosting over 280,000 individuals, offering residents with important provides, water, sanitation and hygiene help in addition to psychosocial help. 

The company goals to help a further 50,000 individuals within the subsequent three months however its operations within the DRC stay underfunded by greater than 50 per cent. 

UNEP pronounces 2023 Champions of the Earth

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has unveiled this yr’s Champions of the Earth. Honourees embrace a metropolis mayor, a serious non-profit, a social enterprise and a analysis council for modern options produced to beat plastic air pollution. 

Since its inception in 2005 the annual Champions of the Earth award has been given to trailblazers on the forefront of efforts to guard each communities and the planet.

It is the UN’s highest environmental honour. UNEP acquired a file 2,500 nominations this cycle.

“Plastic pollution is a deeply concerning strand of the triple planetary crisis”, mentioned Executive Director Inger Anderson.

“For the sake of our health and planet, we must end plastic pollution. This will take nothing less than a complete transformation to reduce the amount of plastics produced and eliminate single use plastics”.

She added that reuse programs should be put in place and alternate options “that avoid the negative environmental and social impacts”.

“As negotiations to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution progress”, she added, “this year’s Champions of the Earth demonstrate that innovative solutions are available that can inspire us to rethink our relationship with plastic.”