Nuremberg Principles Academy Will Help Fight Impunity at National Level, Secretary-General Says in Video Message to Inaugural Conference

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to the inaugural conference of the International Nuremberg Principles Academy, convened in Nuremberg, Germany, on 6 June 2015: Professor Dr. Winfried Bausback, Minister of Justice of the Free State of Bavaria,

Dr. Ulrich Maly, Lord Mayor of the City of Nuremberg, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, since 1945, the word Nuremberg has been synonymous with the concept of international criminal justice.  The International Military Tribunal, which sat in the very room in which you are now gathered, established the most fundamental principle of our modern system of international criminal justice:  that, where national laws and national systems fall short, international laws and mechanisms can fill the gap and ensure that perpetrators of the most serious crimes of international concern will not go unpunished.

Over the past 25 years, we have seen a phenomenal effort to construct international tribunals and internationalized courts to end impunity.  Landmark convictions and jurisprudence have greatly advanced the cause.

But impunity must also be fought at the national level.  The International Nuremberg Principles Academy will help us to win that battle.  By training practitioners from countries affected by international crimes, the Academy will enable those countries themselves to investigate, prosecute and try the perpetrators.  This will strengthen the rule of law at both the national and international levels.

The United Nations looks forward to supporting the International Nuremberg Principles Academy in its important work.  Together, we can move humankind more firmly into the age of accountability.  Danke schön.  Thank you.