The ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the United States, H.E. Božo Cerar, emphasized the critical importance of the International Criminal Court Wednesday as part of his visit to Kansas University.

The ICC serves as a last resort to prosecute the most heinous crimes — genocide and other war crimes — when such crimes aren’t prosecuted by individual nations.

“Our history has taught us again and again that human suffering can have close to no limits,” Cerar said in reference to the necessity of an independent and permanent court for this purpose.

That same history also teaches us that peace and justice reinforce each other and that the establishment of the ICC started an era of accountability, Cerar said.

In 1998, 120 countries adopted the statute that established the ICC, according to its website. The statute went into force in 2002 after ratification by 60 countries.

Cerar said that while the ICC has gaps to close in its jurisdiction and enforcement, it still plays a crucial role for victims.

“The International Criminal Court remains the most important chance to advance the rule of law and give to victims a voice where they would otherwise be left unheard,” he said.

Currently, 123 countries make up the ICC. Cerar said the court would benefit from regaining the formal participation of the United States. Under the administration of President Bill Clinton, the U.S. signed onto the court, but the administration of George W. Bush withdrew.

Dozens of people attended Cerar’s presentation at the Burge Union. Afterward, Cerar acknowledged that the complexities of international law make the topic difficult to address, but ongoing conflicts, such as those in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Ukraine, make it as relevant as ever.

“If at least I introduced a bit of thinking along those lines, I’m pleased,” he said.

After his presentation, Cerar met with students and faculty from the School of Business, which, along with the School of Law and School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, hosted Cerar’s visit.

Marc Greenberg, director of the KU School of Languages, said that KU has a long-standing engagement with Slovenia. The school has offered classes in Slovenian language and culture for almost 40 years and hosted a visit from Slovenian Ambassador Samuel Žbogar in 2007, he said.

“Kansas has a very big interest in international affairs, both from a humanities point of view and a social science point of view,” Greenberg said.