Bridging the Debate ‘Peace versus Justice’: Peace Diplomacy Amid International Arrest Warrants

Behind any armed conflict, there are countless lives lost, untold suffering, and immeasurable pain. The horrific consequences of armed conflict affect individuals with names, identities, and families. Each of these individuals has the right to peace, just as each of us does. 

Today, in Geneva, we must ask ourselves how best to assist these individuals, ending their suffering while complying with and preserving the rule of law. Tomorrow, we must strive to implement solutions that reconcile the pursuit of justice and peace, ensuring they complement rather than exclude one another in addressing armed conflicts. 

The event will address the challenging questions of how peace negotiations can be conducted when one or more indispensable individuals are subject to an international arrest warrant. How can the obligation of States Parties under the Rome Statute to cooperate with the ICC and the obligation of Member States under the UN Charter to peacefully settle disputes be reconciled? 

How can we find solutions that offer prospects for efficient, long-term, sustainable peace without diminishing the importance of accountability, but instead strengthen the ICC’s credibility? The key objective of this panel is to reflect on solutions that are legally compliant and pragmatic, and that realistically reconcile peace diplomacy and accountability.