Yet, we are living in profoundly challenging times for human rights. On this day, I would like us to think in particular of the countless number of civilians who are living in the midst of war and conflict and who continue to endure atrocities which should outrage the conscience of humanity. Their basic rights, though enshrined in human rights and humanitarian law, are denied. For many, war is distant and the graphic images of human suffering enter their lives only through the media. But for the millions of victims of armed conflict, war represents the daily reality. Men and women are killed, maimed, raped, displaced, detained, tortured, and denied basic humanitarian assistance, and their property destroyed because of war. Children are abducted, forcibly recruited into arms, separated from their families, sexually-exploited, suffer hunger, disease and malnutrition, and are unable to go to school. They are not only denied their present, but also their future.

It is appalling that impunity for gross violations of human rights and grave breaches of humanitarian law is so rampant. The entry into force of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court on 1 July 2002 has given great hope for finally bringing an end to genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Let us work together towards ensuring the success of this much-needed institution.