Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) took action on International Justice Day, on the anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on 17 July 1998, to reinforce the fundamental role of the ICC in the unwavering pursuit of international justice, the protection of human rights and the establishment of the Rule of Law.

2017 is a pivotal year for the international justice system: 15 years after the Rome Statute’s entry into force, 19 years after the adoption of the Rome Statute and 72 years after the adoption of the Nuremberg Charter establishing the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg. The 2017 session of the Assembly of States Parties, to be held in New York on 4-12 November 2017, features in agenda the activation of the Court’s jurisdiction on the crime of aggression. Should States Parties undertake this historic decision, unity and coherence will be restored to the most serious crimes of concern to the International Community as a whole.

PGA calls upon all Member States to:

1. Send Ministerial level delegations to the December 2017 Assembly of States Parties session at United Nations headquarters in New York, and consider hosting or participating in a ministerial-level side event or luncheon. Engage fully in the session’s plenary agenda item on the Rome Statute’s twentieth anniversary.
2. As part of marking the anniversary, formulating (or re-formulating) and publishing the government’s strategy of support to the ICC. This can be an opportunity to make the case for the court’s relevance and importance in furthering your government’s key strategic priorities
3. In the course of 2018, convening, with high-level participation, events and conferences on the ICC to mark the Rome Statute’s twentieth anniversary. Such events could be convened nationally, regionally, or through multi-regional organizations to give a high level of visibility to your government’s backing for the ICC. This would also provide a forum for discussion and planning between ministers with regard to strengthening support to the ICC.
4. Consulting and coordinating emerging plans with Court officials.

States and all relevant stakeholders, including members of the civil society and Parliamentarians, are afforded an unprecedented opportunity to speak in a strong affirmative voice about the positive evolution for accountability and the rule of law accomplished by Rome Statute and embodied by the ICC.

As the first international, permanent and impartial judicial body that hold individuals responsible of crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes and the crime of aggression accountable, it is a paramount tool to end cycles of impunity and violence that have marred our history and to trigger a deterrence effect on the commission of future crimes.

Today we continue to witness perpetrators of the most serious crimes that shock the consciousness of humankind left unpunished in impunity zones, while the victims demand the fulfilment of their inalienable right to obtain justice and reparations. It is our duty to ensure that our governments give priority to the full implementation of the Rome Statute in their national legal orders as well as the establishment of strong cooperation mechanisms with the ICC.

There is much work to be done for international justice to prevail, the ICC cannot bear the burden alone. The Court need to receive substantive and financial support of all States Parties and Non-State Parties alike. To ensure the non-repetition of international crimes, universality of the Rome Statute is essential. PGA will continue advocate with countries who have not yet ratified the Rome Statute to do so. PGA strongly believes that all law-abiding nations in the world must ratify, implement and remain within the Rome Statute system of the ICC.

Accountability is as a prerequisite for peace and stability, development and effective protection of human rights because there is no lasting peace without justice and no justice as long as there is impunity.

PGA Secretary General David Donat Cattin addressed ASP-UN 17 July event to mark International Justice Day in New York, at the presence of PGA Treasurer Petra Bayr MP (Austria) and Uruguay’s Lower House Speaker Jose Carlos Mahia, MP, PGA member.  The event was co-hosted by the Governments of Italy, Liechtenstein, Denmark and The Gambia. The Minister of Finance of Denmark, Mr. Kristian Jensen MP, delivered a forceful keynote address. The Permanent Representative of Argentina to the UN, Ambassador Moritain, delivered a strong statement in support of the Rome Statute system against impunity on behalf of UNASUR.