Ms Emma Bonino has been appointed as Italy’s Foreign Minister in the newly formed government headed by Enrico letta, which has been sworn in on 28 April 2013. Emma Bonino is a leading member of the Italian Radicals and founder of No Peace Without Justice. During the last legislature, Emma Bonino served as Vice President of the Italian Senate. In 2006-08, she served as Italian Minister for International Trade and European Affairs and before (in 1979-88 and 1999-2006) she was member of the European Parliament. Bonino was also European commissioner in 1995-99, with responsibility for health, consumer protection and humanitarian aid.
No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) warmly congratulate Ms Emma Bonino for her solemn undertaking as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy. As founder of NPWJ, she has been a driving force of our campaigns to promote human rights, democracy, the rule of law and international justice in Europe and worldwide. From her pioneering role in the fight against impunity for crimes under international law and the support to the establishment of the International Criminal Court and other ad hoc tribunals, to her outspoken and tireless commitment in defence of fundamental and universal principles, she has fought unreservedly to spread freedom and human rights in the countries where they are often denied in the name of political stability and presumed cultural incompatibility. Emma’s outstanding dedication has also been central in the successful achievement of NPWJ’s international campaign for the adoption of a UNGA Resolution to ban female genital mutilation as a violation of universal human rights and physical integrity of women and girls.
We are certain that her outstanding qualifications and skills, as well as vision and determination, will be a great help to her country at a time of crisis and contribute to reassert Italy as a key and credible European Union member state. NPWJ extends its full support to Emma Bonino as she embarks on facing these challenges and looks forward to her leadership in the worldwide fight to advance human rights, democratic principles, rule of law, justice and accountability.
For further information, contact Nicola Giovannini on ngiovannini@npwj.org or +32-2-548-3915.
