OVERTURN of the First Ever International Criminal Court (ICC) Conviction for Crimes of Sexual Violence

https://4genderjustice.org/overturn-of-1st-icc-conviction-for-crimes-of-sexual-violence/

LINK TO FULL 2-PAGE STATEMENT BY WOMEN’S INITIATIVES FOR GENDER JUSTICE

http://4genderjustice.org/pub/Statement-Bemba-Appeal-Judgment-June-2018.pdf

ROME STATUTE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

https://www.icc-cpi.int/NR/rdonlyres/EA9AEFF7-5752-4F84-BE94-0A655EB30E16/0/Rome_Statute_English.pdf

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court ) is the treaty that established the International Criminal Court (ICC). It was adopted at a diplomatic conference in Rome on 17 July 1998^[6][7] and it entered into force on 1 July 2002. The Rome Statute established four core international crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression.

STARK REALITY – OVERTURN OF THE FIRST EVER INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC)  CONVICTION FOR CRIMES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE

NOW, 20 YEARS AFTER PASSAGE OF THE ROME STATUTE, THERE HAS NOT BEEN ONE SUSTAINED SUCCESSFUL CONVICTION FOR SEXUAL & GENDER-BASED CRIMES

12 June 2018 – On 8 June 2018, the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC), by a 3-2 majority, acquitted Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo (Bemba) of Congo.The Appeal Judgment overturned his conviction handed down unanimously in March 2016 for two counts of crimes against humanity (murder and rape) and three counts of war crimes (murder, rape and pillaging).

“During this year marking the 20th anniversary of the Rome Statute, it is very disappointing to note that, as of today, there has not been a single successful conviction for sexual and gender-based crimes”, said Melinda Reed, Executive Director of the Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice. “Starting with the failure to include sexual and gender-based crimes in the charges against Lubanga in 2006, to the subsequent acquittals of Ngudjolo and Katanga for these types of crimes, and now Bemba’s acquittal, the stark reality is that the Court has not been able to deliver formal justice to victims of conflict-related sexual violence. Additionally, thousands of victims who had hopes of justice and reparations stemming from Bemba’s conviction in 2016 have reason to be greatly disappointed by this outcome”,