Mr President,

Germany fully aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union and would like to make the following remarks in a national capacity:

Germany is a staunch supporter of the International Criminal Court. The Rome Statute with the ICC are the core elements in the fight against impunity, to which Germany has subscribed.

By joining the Rome Statute, we have all made a commitment: Victims shall receive justice. Perpetrators shall be held accountable. And when core crimes under international law are committed, the international community will not look the other way.

Today, the International Criminal Court - and with it the very idea of international criminal justice - is threatened, by sanctions, by cyberattacks. These threats require a firm response. One opportunity to do so, in our view, is the forthcoming review of the crime of aggression which will also provide an occasion for public debate oon the need for an International Criminal Court and an opportunity for renewed backing by States.

Mr President,

Allow me to make a few remarks on the forthcoming review of the crime of aggression which is mandated to take place in 2025. It is the Russian aggression against Ukraine that prompted us to evaluate anew how far we have come with regard to criminalizing aggression and the conditions for the exercise of the ICC's jurisdiction over this crome.

For us, the aggression against Ukraine clearly showed that a gap in the Rome Statute needs to be closed - that is the accountability gap that we face when the crime of aggression is committed by an actor from a non-State party against a State party.

In order to do so - and in order to strengthen both international criminal law and the International Criminal Court -, we are currently discussing possible ideas and options with a Group of Friends comprises 32 States.

Germany invites all States to join this effort. This is a question that concerns the entire international community. We strongly believe that it is of great importance to address this reveiw process in a comprehensive and inclusive manner.

The current geopolitical situation requires bold steps to counter threats and breaches of international criminal law. We have seen in Kampala that it is possible to find sound compromise - we hope and we are confident that this will also be possible in the forthcoming review process.

Thank you.