November 11, 2014 | New York/The Hague/San José de Costa Rica

Parliamentarians celebrate the approval by the plenary of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica of the Kampala Amendments to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Through the approval of the Amendments, Costa Rica has decided to bind its nationals and its 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.  This step comes at a very important time, when the respect for the territorial integrity of States Parties to the Rome Statute is paramount in order to strengthen the Rule of Law, peace and security. 

Eighteen (18) other nations from all regions of the world have ratified both Amendments to date – Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Poland, Samoa, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay. By bringing the number up to nineteen (19), Costa Rica has made an important contribution towards the goal of achieving 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.

Costa Rica ratified the Rome Statute of the ICC on 7 June 2001, becoming the 33rd State Party to do so. Under the leadership of PGA member and former MP, Mr. Alfaro Zamora, on 4 July 2013, the International Relations and Foreign Trade Committee decided positively on the ratification of the Kampala Amendments, after the draft Bill was submitted by the Government on 30 June 2012.

On 11 September, 2014, after the participation of Hon. Ronny Monge Salas and Dip. Gonzalo Ramirez in the Sub-Regional Working Group on Challenges for the Effectiveness of the Rome Statute system in the Americas, held in the Chamber of Deputies of Uruguay on 27- 28 August 2014,  where they reaffirmed their commitment to continue promoting the Kampala Amendments Bill in order to assure its adoption before the end of 2014, the Amendments were approved in the first reading at the plenary and after a positive assessment by the Constitutional Chamber, the Amendments were approved in their second reading by the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica. The deposit of the Kampala Amendments by the Government should follow soon.

Statement by PGA Member Mr. Ronny Monge, MP (Costa Rica) Secretary Special Commission on Security and Narcotics, Vice President, Legislative Commission III: “It is my great pleasure to be part of the process for the parliamentary approval of the Kampala Amendments by Costa Rica, who, after the deposit of the Amendments, will become the 19th country to ratify the amendments. By way of this parliamentary approval, Costa Rica joins the efforts to accomplish the universal prohibition of the illegal use of force under the UN Charter and to ensure that all war crimes are not left unpunished. We truly hope that the step taken by Costa Rica encourages State Parties to the Rome Statute that have not yet ratified the amendments to join us so that we can reach 30 ratifications before the end of 2017 and the full support of States parties to take the one-time decision at the ASP". 

Statement by PGA Member Mr. Alberto Gonzalo Ramirez (Costa Rica), Chairman, Committee on Economic Affairs: “By the approval of the Bill to Ratify the Kampala Amendments, the parliament of Costa Rica sends an essential message to the world: Costa Rica, a State without armed forces is committed to the rule of law, peace and justice. I would like to take this opportunity to call on States to continue ratifying the Kampala Amendments, no impunity can exist for those responsible for the illegal use of force. Costa Rica is joining through this step the group of nations around the world that are taking concrete, legally binding steps to formally ensure that the crime of aggression and all war crimes are not left unpunished, whether they would be committed in an international or non-international armed conflict"

Statement by former PGA Member Mr. Alfaro Zamora, (Costa Rica), Former President International Relations and Foreign Trade Committee: “Costa Rica’s approval of the Kampala Amendments certainly highlights the relevance of the role of the ICC in the current international geopolitics situation and the necessity for the Court to have  jurisdiction over the crime of aggression. No safe haven  shall exist for those responsible for committing one of the most heinous crimes, the crime of aggression; and I strongly believe that these provisions will have a deterrence effect. I have personally supported the ratification of the Kampala Amendments by Costa Rica in the International Relations and Foreign Trade Committee which I presided in the last parliamentary period, as well as in the Plenary of the Legislative Assembly. It is important to highlight that the ratification of the Kampala Amendments have great acceptance by the parliamentarians of the Latin American region since, together with other PGA members, we promoted a resolution in the Latin American Parliament requesting all Latin American MPs to call on their governments to ratify these Amendments as a way to promote the basic human right to peace in our respective countries.”

Statement by Ms. Marcela Guerrero, PGA Member (Costa Rica), Vice President of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica: “It is an honor for me as vice president of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica and as PGA member, to say that my country has joined the community of states who believe in the importance of binding its nationals and its territory to the prohibition of the use of certain weapons in armed conflicts and investigate and prosecute those allegedly responsible for the illegal use of force in violation of the territorial integrity of a state. I can only wish that more states in the region and around the world, will join Costa Rica's efforts in these significant steps in order to promote a safer and more equitable world.”

About PGA

Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) is the largest transnational network of Members of Parliaments from all regions of the world who, in their individual capacity, support the effective operation of the ICC and domestic jurisdictions to end impunity. The PGA network is assisted by a small secretariat that facilitates the cooperation and exchange by member MPs to achieve these goals and provides technical cooperation on legal advice and advocacy.

Members of PGA have contributed to 76 of the 122 ratifications of, or accessions to the Rome Statute to date. PGA is a member of the Steering Committee of the Coalition for the ICC. The PGA Campaign for the Universality and Effectiveness of the Rome Statute system receives support from: