Mr President,

The EU wishes to thank the High Commissioner for convening today's informal meeting, focusing on recent country visits, the migration challenges, as well as the need for universal support for the international criminal justice system – a call which the EU fully supports. We welcome these informal briefings allowing the High Commissioner to bring new information and developments to the table, independently from the Council's formal sessions.

At the time of critical human rights situations in many parts of the world, we very much appreciate the strong presence and rapid response of the High Commissioner and of the OHCHR to human rights crises and challenges, and we reiterate our full support for the independence and integrity of the mandate of the High Commissioner and his office in this regard.  

The world is facing a major challenge in responding to the global crisis caused by unprecedented mixed migratory flows of people who often undertake a very dangerous journey in the hands of traffickers and smugglers. The EU, respecting the value of human life, remains fully committed to refugee protection, the human rights of migrants and addressing the root causes of irregular and forced migration. It is crucial to step up cooperation between countries of origin, transit and destination in order to address these challenges in an effective and efficient way. It is also important to promote the universal ratification and effective implementation of the UN Convention against transnational organized crimes and its protocols.

The EU welcomes the High-Level Meeting held on 19 September in New York this year, which addressed the challenges linked to large movements of refugees and migrants. We wish to thank you for the contribution of your Office in the follow up to the New York Declaration. We acknowledge a shared responsibility to manage large movements of refugees and migrants in dignity and safety. We also believe that this can and should be a starting point for a global response to migration challenges, where the respect for human rights should never be forgotten, among other considerations of a holistic approach also taking into account humanitarian needs, development, rule of law and security. The EU is ready to work with your Office, with States and all other stakeholders, with a view to achieve these aims.

Mr President,

The Rome Statute is an essential achievement in international criminal justice. The International Criminal Court embodies universal norms and values.  The EU remains a strong defender of the rule of law and a staunch supporter of the ICC, and we remain dedicated to working with all States and people to support the rule of law and the ICC as the key institution in the fight against impunity of the most serious international crimes.

The European Union believes that stronger cooperation between international, regional and national actors is needed to counter atrocities committed in conflicts around the world. Therefore the EU deeply regrets the recent decisions by the Republic of South Africa, Burundi and The Gambia to initiate their withdrawal from the Rome Statute.  These unprecedented moves risk weakening global governance and the universality of human rights as well as conditions for accountability for violations and abuses of international law. We strongly hope that these States will reconsider their position and continue to engage with the international community to ensure the universality of the Rome Statute, with the ICC a vital last resort for preventing impunity.

I thank you for your attention.