In a joint statement, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Judge Sang-Hyun Song, welcome the tenth anniversary of the entry-into-force of the Relationship Agreement between two organizations.

“The conclusion of the Relationship Agreement was a significant milestone in the collective efforts of the international community to end impunity for the most serious crimes of international concern,” according to the statement.

The Relationship Agreement entered into force on 4 October 2004, following its signing by then ICC President Judge Philippe Kirsch and the former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Under the accord, the ICC and the UN recognize each other’s mandates and status, and agree to cooperate and consult with each other on matters of mutual interest.

The Agreement was founded “on a shared belief that peace can only be served if those responsible for the suffering of the victims of unimaginable atrocities are brought to justice,” according to  Ban and  Song.

It has also provided a solid basis for cooperation between the UN and the ICC in a wide range of fields.

The Hague-based ICC is an independent international body that is not part of the UN and tries those accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Any of the currently 122 States Parties to the 1998 Rome Statute which set up the Court can ask its Prosecutor to carry out an investigation, a non-State Party can accept its jurisdiction for crimes committed in its territory or by its nationals, and the Council may also refer cases to it. Its mandate is to try individuals, rather than States.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left) and the President of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Judge Sang-Hyun Song at an event on 17 July 2014 marking the tenth anniversary of the Relationship Agreement between the UN and the ICC. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe