Since 2016, Eurojust has joined the Genocide Prosecution Network, European Commission and the Presidency of the Council of the EU to mark the annual EU Day Against Impunity.
Each year, an event was organised to raise awareness of the most heinous crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes and to promote national investigations and prosecutions.
Scroll through the timeline for highlights of past editions of this important event.
2016
No safe havens for perpetrators of atrocious crimes
Council Presidency
The first annual EU Day Against Impunity of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes was initiated on 23 May 2016 at Eurojust. The event brought together representatives of the EU Member States, European Commission, General Secretariat of the Council, EU agencies, international tribunals, NGO’s, journalists, academics and international academics to raise awareness of these crimes and promote national investigations and prosecutions.
2017
Stepping up collective action & cooperation within the EU
Council Presidency
The second annual EU Day Against Impunity event was held in Brussels, with a focus on stepping up collective action and cooperation within the European Union when combatting impunity. Participants emphasized the importance of fostering mutual legal assistance and cooperation to facilitate and support the work of national jurisdictions, which are on the frontline in this fight.
2018
20th anniversary of the Rome Statute
Council Presidency
In 2018, the International Criminal Court (ICC) hosted a special edition of the event, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Rome Statute. The discussions focused on the shared responsibility of national jurisdictions and the ICC to investigate and prosecute core international crimes.
2019
Expanding partnerships and creating new synergies
Council Presidency
The 4th EUDAI event addressed the topic “Joining forces in the fight against impunity – providing synergies between external and internal European dimensions.” Participants shared examples of outreach to affected communities and victims in situation countries and discussed the role of EU foreign policy and the European External Action Service (EEAS).
2020
Cumulative prosecution of foreign terrorist fighters
Council Presidency
Due to the COVID pandemic, the fifth EU Day Against Impunity took place entirely online. The topic of the event was the cumulative prosecution of foreign terrorist fighters. Recorded statements were published via Eurojust’s YouTube channel, and both a factsheet and report were presented.
2021
Justice for victims of crimes in Syria
Council Presidency
In focus this year – ten years after the start of the conflict in Syria – was the increase in actions against impunity for war crimes committed by the Syrian regime. For the second year in a row, the day was marked in a digital format, with short reflections from speakers who presented challenges and successes of current and future trials in national courts.
2022
National authorities on the frontlines of justice
Council Presidency
The 7th EUDA was devoted to a practical assessment of the 2014 Strategy of the EU Genocide Network to combat impunity for the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Faced with an unparalleled crisis since the entry into force of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, the event asked whether the EU, its Member States, and partners up to the task of achieving justice for atrocities perpetrated in Syria, Ukraine and elsewhere. During the event, a report on the main developments in the fight against impunity for core international crimes in the EU was published by the Genocide Prosecution Network.
2023
Universal and extraterritorial jurisdiction in focus
Council Presidency
In 2023, EUDAI was on the move, with a livestreamed event hosted in Ljubljana, Slovenia. This edition took place as part of the MLA Diplomatic Conference for the Adoption of the Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity, War Crimes and other International Crimes.
2024
Commemorating the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda
Council Presidency
The 9th EU Day Against Impunity was devoted to commemorating the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Judicial authorities in Europe, Rwanda and a UN tribunal opened thousands of formal investigations and court cases against alleged perpetrators, with many proceedings still ongoing thirty years later.
2025
Protecting the independence and integrity of judicial authorities
Council Presidency
The 10th annual EU Day Against Impunity highlighted the need to protect the independence and integrity of judicial authorities. International judicial authorities are increasingly confronted with challenges such as sanctions, funding limitations, and lack of cooperation. These obstacles risk disrupting ongoing investigations and proceedings, ultimately undermining justice for the victims of some of the most heinous crimes.
Eurojust is an agency of the European Union