14-15 November 2023 – New York / The Hague / Seoul

PGA’s Rome Statute Campaign had the honor to participate in the High-Level Asia-Pacific Seminar, organized by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Government of the Republic of Korea, held on 14 and 15 November 2023, in Seoul. The event, titled “The International Criminal Court and the past, present and future of the Rome Statute – vision for greater regional solidarity”, aimed at raising awareness about the ICC and the Rome Statute in the region, while fostering dialogue among key stakeholders, including representatives of ministries, international organizations and civil society organizations.

The two-day consultations specifically focused on strengthening collaboration between the ICC and regional partners, addressing challenges faced by the Asia-Pacific region and sharing experiences on regional and international initiatives that promote judicial cooperation, such as the South East Asia Justice Network. There is a crucial need for greater cooperation and support in the Asia-Pacific region, as it is the least represented in the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute. The seminar, therefore, allowed highlighting the importance of universality, and the role of the ICC in implementing accountability globally and upholding the values enshrined within the Rome Statute.

The Minister of Justice of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Dong Hoon Han, reiterated his country’s commitment to continuing its efforts in implementing and expanding the Rome Statute system. Indeed, not only the Republic of Korea – together with the Netherlands – is a focal point country on universality, but it is also the second largest contributor to the ICC in the region. Emphasizing the importance of collective capabilities, the Minister encouraged Asian-Pacific countries to increase their engagements with the ICC, as a means to uphold international justice.

During the Seminar, the President of the Assembly of States Parties, H.E. Silvia Fernández de Gurmandi, the President of the ICC, H.E. Judge Piotr Hofmański, and the Deputy Prosecutor of the ICC, H.E. Nazhat Shameen Khan, all commended the Republic of Korea’s contribution to the Court. They notably stressed the pivotal role of the Asia-Pacific region in achieving universality of the Rome Statute system and delivering justice globally: only through regional and international cooperation can perpetrators be held accountable. In this regard, there is the need for more representation of perspectives from the region in the Assembly of States Parties, making the expansion of the Rome Statute a paramount priority.

The Seminar also addressed specific challenges of the region related to ratification, implementation of the Rome Statute, and cooperation with the ICC. Sharing PGA’s experience and best practices on this topic, Ms. Frederika Schweighoferova, Director of PGA International Law and Human Rights Programme, had the opportunity to present the work of the Rome Statute Campaign. She specifically reaffirmed PGA’s readiness to assist parliamentarians and government officials in the ratification process and implementation of the Rome Statute at the domestic level. Ms. Schweighoferova also introduced the model instrument of ratification developed by PGA and shared recent progress that the organization achieved thanks to the engagement of its members worldwide. Furthermore, she reiterated the crucial nature of implementing the Rome Statute domestically, indicating that out of the 124 countries that ratified the instrument, only 73 adopted laws that reach a satisfactory level – i.e., that sufficiently incorporate the fundamental provisions of the Rome Statute. She also stressed the need for countries to adopt legislations facilitating cooperation with the Court, expressing concerns over the limited measures taken by only 57 States Parties. Ms. Schweighoferova, therefore, called on States to strengthen their efforts in these crucial matters, emphasizing that robust implementation is vital for complementarity, and enhanced cooperation is essential to consolidate the Court’s capacity and efficiency.

The event saw the participation of high-level ministerial, judicial and technical State actors from Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Japan, Maldives, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Timor-Leste, regional international organisations - the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, and the United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR) Office in Seoul, as well as academia and civil society organizations.

PGA’s Rome Statute Campaign expresses gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to this important dialogue and remains committed to supporting the ICC’s mission for justice and accountability.