Common bonds: From the Rome Conference to today, an exhibition in the Grote Kerk

• Date: 02 October
• Location: Grote Kerk 

Photo exhibition « Common bonds : From the Rome Conference to today » on display in The Hague

From 8 September until 2 October 2023, the photographic exhibition “Common bonds: From the Rome Conference to today” will be displayed in The Hague’s Grote Kerk event venue. As the exhibit is to be free and open to the public, the Grote Kerk will not charge its usual entry fee during the duration of this exhibition. The exhibit will be a highlight of the Grote Kerk's participation in Open Monument Day on Saturday 9 Sept. from 11:00 - 16:00 and on Sunday 10 Sept. from 12:00 - 16:00, which is also free and open to the public.

In addition, an outdoor version of the exhibition will be on display along The Hague’s Lange Voorhout avenue, where it will be displayed in open air and for free from 24 October to 6 November 2023.

About the exhibition

Through its work addressing some of the world’s worst crimes, the International Criminal Court (ICC) hears thousands of stories from conflict survivors from across the globe. This exhibition offers a glimpse into some of those stories.

Despite coming from 17 situations across four continents where the ICC has launched investigations, the stories have many common threads: they are personal experiences of unimaginable violence, harm and loss. But they are also stories of love, friendship, family, home, connection, community and hope. As one man told us: "One must learn to survive."

The States Parties to the Rome Statute created the Court: “Conscious that all peoples are united by common bonds, their cultures pieced together in a shared heritage, and concerned that this delicate mosaic may be shattered at any time”. With these opening words from the Rome Statute's Preamble, the ICC was created. With these same words, 25 years later, the Assembly of States Parties presents this "Common bonds" exhibition to you.

This exhibition is hosted by the Assembly of States Parties and was produced by the International Criminal Court. The ICC collaborated with the Trust Fund for Victimsto capture and share the photographs from the Democratic Republic of the Congo about ICC reparations and other Trust Fund for Victims programmes.

The ICC is grateful for the generous support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Municipality of The Hague, and the European Union in producing this exhibition.

The photos and accompanying captions are for the purpose of the exhibition only. They do not represent, and are without prejudice to, the legal findings in specific cases and situations before the Court.

Visitors should be aware that the exhibition contains some strong content that may be unsettling, particularly to children. Viewer discretion is advised.

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Adopted on 17 July 1998, the Rome Statute is the founding treaty of the ICC, supported by 123 countries. The International Criminal Court is the first permanent international criminal court established to help end impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community, namely war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression. 

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