On February 2007, Senator Raynell Andreychuck and Dr. David Donat Cattin, Director of the International Law and Human Rights Program of PGA, intervened at the ICC session held at the OAS specifically promoting the inclusion of victim protection and reparation rights in legislation to implement the Rome Statute, as well as political actions of PGA to re-engage the United States with the fight against impunity.

Background on PGA and OAS informal cooperation on the ICC

PGA members from all political parties in the Western Hemisphere have brought about important achievements to the universality and protection of the integrity of the Rome Statute, and continue engaged for further ratifications and for the implementation in national legal orders and human rights law reform.

Given the commitment of the Organization of American States members and its Secretariat to the fight against impunity as evidenced by the pro-ICC activism at the Assembly of States Parties and the United Nations of the 25 OAS countries that are States Parties to the ICC, the Annual Resolution in support of the ICC adopted by the OAS General Assembly, the regular working meetings on the ICC held by the Permanent Council, and the appointment of a Focal point on the ICC within the Inter-American Judicial Committee, PGA seeks the informal but sustained cooperation with relevant OAS members states and organs.

Accordingly, PGA has had the honor to collaborate with the OAS Under-Secretary Amb. Albert Ramdin (Suriname) in the promotion of the Rome Statute in the Caribbean, and mainly in supporting the recent ratification of Suriname, and PGA members have benefited from the invitation to intervene at various Working Sessions on the ICC organised by the Permanent Council of the OAS. These interventions aim at bringing the voice and positions of parliamentarians to diplomatic fora in order to inform and sustain the national decision-making and with respect to key issues affecting support to the ICC and the fight against impunity. In parallel, PGA continues its engagement with the Inter-American Juridical Committee sharing information to promote the implementation of the Rome Statute in national legal orders of OAS member states.