Parliamentarians around the world celebrate the ratification of the Kampala Amendments of the crime of aggression of the International Criminal Court by Spain, Latvia and Poland. This brings the number of ratifying states to 18.  By way of ratification, these states have decided to bind their nationals and their territory to the prohibition of the use of certain weapons in armed conflicts not of an international character, as well as to the criminalization of acts of aggression arising from the illegal use of force in international relations.

Most importantly, the international legal framework that prohibits the illegal use of force, as provided in the United Nations Charter is reaffirmed, promoting the respect for the territorial integrity of States Parties to the Rome Statue and peace and security around the world.

Fifteen other nations from all regions of the world have ratified both Amendments to date - Liechtenstein, Samoa, Luxembourg, Estonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Germany, Botswana, Cyprus, Slovenia, Andorra, Uruguay, Belgium, Croatia, Slovakia and Austria. PGA trusts the significant step taken today by Spain, Latvia and Poland will be an example followed by many more states parties to the Rome Statute in the near future in order to achieve the 30 ratifications needed by 2017, which with a positive decision by the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), will activate the jurisdiction of the ICC over the crime of aggression. 

This is an important step of the campaign to get 30 ratifications before the end of 2015  – an effort that we pursue with the Global Institute for Prevention of Aggression and Parliamentarians for Global Action. Activating the Court’s jurisdiction over the crime of aggression in 2017 will make the court a stronger institution, a court that will be able to prosecute those responsible for the worst forms of the illegal use of force. Ambassador Christian Wenaweser, (Liechtenstein)
Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein at the United Nations and Chair of PGA UN Committee:

The Ratification of the Kampala Amendments by Spain, Latvia and Poland is a great sign of commitment to the strengthening of the Rome Statute system and the establishment of a world based in the rule of law. In concrete terms this means that, once reached 30 ratifications and after 2017 with a positive decision of the ASP, the ICC will have jurisdiction over the crime of aggression, reaffirming the UN Charter’s principle prohibiting the illegal use of force. From an early stage, I have always been a strong promoter and defender of the Kampala Amendments, as such I have nominated the Review Conference to the Nobel Peace Prize and I have promoted the implementation bill of such amendments in the New Zealand Parliament. MP Graham Kennedy (New Zealand)
PGA Member:

The European Parliament just recently adopted a Resolution on the Kampala Amendments on the occasion of the Day of International Criminal Justice. The Resolution, which I have personally initiated, calls for all European Member States to ratify the Kampala Amendments. The ratification of the Kampala Amendments by three more EU Member States today is an important signal for all other European states to follow swiftly but also for countries around the world to bind their nationals and their territory to the criminalisation of acts of aggression arising from the illegal use of force in international relations. This is a necessary step which brings hope for a safer and more just world. MEP Barbara Lochbihler
European Parliament (Germany), PGA Member

These ratifications come at a time where numerous armed conflicts are ongoing and it certainly highlights the relevance of the role of the ICC and the necessity to expand its jurisdiction.  The ratification of the Kampala Amendments demonstrate that no impunity shall exist for those responsible for committing one of the most heinous of crimes, the crime of aggression and most importantly, it will hopefully have a deterrence effect. On 11 September, 2014, these amendments reached the first reading at the Parliament in Costa Rica and I am hopeful that my country will be in a position to ratify such amendments by the end of this year. Statement by MP Ronny Monge, (Costa Rica)
PGA Member