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PGA’s vision is to contribute to the creation of a Rules-Based International Order for a more equitable, safe, sustainable and democratic world.

Chile becomes 109th State Party to Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

Photo compliments of: Paul Weissleder, UN Treaty Section
Photo compliments of: Paul Weissleder, UN Treaty Section

Chile signed the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court on 11 September 1998. Following the adoption of the Crimes Bill and a constitutional amendment by the National Congress in the past few months, PGA celebrates both the decision of the Senate of 10 June 2009 and of the Chamber of Deputies of 17 June 2009 to ratify the Rome Statute, thereby completing the legislative process of ratification.

On June 29, 2009, Minister for the Presidency, and former Senator and PGA member, Mr. Jose Antonio Viera Gallo deposited the Instrument of Ratification on behalf of the government with the UN Treaty Section in New York thereby making Chile the 109th State Party to the Rome Statute of the ICC. The ICC will undoubtedly benefit from Chile's membership just as our global association of parliamentarians has been vitally enriched by the contribution of our members, among many former Senator Jose Antonio Viera Gallo (PS), Dip. Gabriel Ascencio (PDC), Dip. Tucapel Jimenez (PPD), Sen. Carlos Cantero (Indep.), Dip. Maximiano Errazuriz (RN).

PGA has worked in Chile since 1996 on strengthening democratic transition forming a multiparty national group led by Dip. Andres Palma. The work of the group intensified in 2002 to bring about the affirmative decision by the Legislative Branch in supporting the government's commitment to the ICC. After years of stalemate, in 2007 and 2008 PGA had the opportunity also to also work alongside opposition coalition parliamentarians such as Sen. Sergio Romero (RN) and Sen. Hernan Larrain (UDI) who led the process of implementation of the crimes of the Rome Statute within the Chilean national order, hence unblocking the ICC dossier.

The membership of Chile in the system of the Rome Statute will bring about new opportunities and challenges including, most immediately, its participation in the decision-making process at the Review Conference of the Rome Statute of the ICC to be held in Uganda in May-June 2010. Chile will also have the opportunity to nominate candidates to the bench of the Court and the Victims Trust Fund, and the voice of Chile as a State Party to the ICC will be amplified at the United Nations, and at other multilateral fora in highlighting the need to protect victims, civilians and peacekeepers, who suffer from these serious crimes, and to remind those who have not yet joined the Rome Statute that justice and peace must always go hand-in hand and are not mutually exclusive.

The ratification of the Rome Statute by Chile is an important milestone towards the universality of the Rome Statute, which demonstrates that joining the ICC is a genuine expression of protecting the national interest of law-abiding nations that transcends partisan interests, and fulfills the ideal of a system of justice where prevention, complementarity, and the rights of victims and accused are essential cornerstones.

Key dates in the legislative process in Chile


Deposit of Chile of ICC Ratification