Landmark decision in the fight against impunity: German Government welcomes ICC sentence handed down to Lubanga

Today (10 July) in The Hague, the International Criminal Court announced its decision to sentence the former Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga to 14 years' imprisonment. Lubanga was found guilty of recruiting and using child soldiers on 14 March 2012.

Markus Löning, Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy, issued the following statement today (10 July):

"The German Government welcomes today's decision by the International Criminal Court as another landmark in the fight against impunity in cases of serious crimes against international law. Today no-one can any longer expect such crimes to go unpunished. What is more, holding the perpetrators of grievous injustices to account is a contribution towards peace and reconciliation.

By handing down this sentence to Thomas Lubanga, the International Criminal Court has once again demonstrated its significance in a most impressive manner. Ten years after the entry into force of the Rome Statute and the establishment of the International Criminal Court, it is becoming ever more clear that it plays a central role in the persecution and punishment of crimes such as genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity."