Brussels-Rome, 25 October 2024
No Peace Without Justice is appalled by UN Secretary General António Guterres’ decision to attend the BRICS summit in Kazan and pay an unwarranted visit to President Vladimir Putin, who is under an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. This visit is not only a gratuitous gesture but a dangerous signal of legitimisation for someone accused of heinous international crimes.
By disregarding the United Nations’ own guidelines on contact with individuals subject to international arrest warrants, Secretary General Guterres has undermined both his own expressed commitments to rule of law and the UN’s broader credibility on justice and accountability. At a time when global confidence in international justice is crucial, such actions contradict the values the UN claims to uphold and damage its moral authority.
Protecting human rights and building peace require more than powerful rhetoric – they demand consistent and principled action. When those accused of the most serious crimes can receive visits from global leaders as if it’s “business as usual,” the message to victims is unmistakably clear: their suffering is secondary. This affront to victims of war crimes and human rights violations is unacceptable.
No Peace Without Justice calls upon the United Nations to urgently address this breach of its own policies and to ensure that its leaders’ actions align with their words. Only by holding the powerful accountable can we restore faith in international justice and truly honor the rights of those who have endured unimaginable harm.
