New York/ The Hague - 16 July 2018

On 12 July 2018, the Plenary of the Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic approved in second reading the Draft Bill Number 05835-2016-2020-CD on Cooperation and Relations with the ICC, based on PGA’s “reference law” on cooperation with the ICC that creates legislative frameworks for direct cooperation among judicial and prosecutorial organs of the State and the International Criminal Court (ICC), as well as frameworks to directly give effect to all voluntary cooperation schemes promoted by the ICC (e.g. enforcement of sentences, protection and relocation of victims and witnesses, as well as final or interim release).

This achievement represents the culmination of a legislative process that started on 13 September 2017, when Senator Julio César Valentín, longstanding PGA Member, tabled the Draft Cooperation Bill in the Senate, with the support of PGA Member Diputado Pedro José Alegría Soto and Diputado José Rafael Vargas Pantaleón. This draft bill was approved on 15 November 2018 by the Plenary. On 6 December 2017, it was sent to the House of Deputies. On 7 March 2018, the draft Cooperation law was sent to the Justice Committee presided by PGA Member, Diputado Henry Merán, and approved on 1 May 2018. On 19 June 2018, the House of Deputies approved the draft bill in first reading. Following this historical achievement, Diputado Víctor Bisonó, Chair of the International Council of PGA, made the following statement: 

Under the leadership of the PGA National Group in Dominican Republic, the House of Deputies approved in first reading the Draft Law on Cooperation and Relations with the International Criminal Court. We hope to approve it very soon in its second reading, and thus fulfill our obligation as a State Party to the Rome Statute to cooperate fully with the ICC. This achievement has an important significance considering that this year marks the twentieth anniversary of the only competent jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes and the crime of aggression

PGA Members in the Dominican Republic have been actively advocating for the full implementation of the Rome Statute since March 2015, after hosting a PGA Parliamentary Workshop on the topic. Indeed, on 18 October 2016, Chair of PGA’s International Council Diputado Víctor Bisonó, and PGA Members Sen. Valentín and Diputado Radhames González met with Ing. Miguel Vargas Maldonado, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and his legal adviser Mr. Salim Ibarra, to discuss the importance of the Rome Statute system.

The Dominican Republic is committed to complying with its international obligations. To this effect, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies had created a bicameral committee to discuss the draft cooperation bill. PGA provided technical assistance to address all concerns of the technical sections of both Chambers of the Dominican Parliament.

Following the vote on 12 July 2018, the Bill on Cooperation and Relations with the ICC has been sent to the Executive to be signed and published into law.

For more information, please contact:

Ms. Melissa Verpile
Melissa.Verpile@pgaction.org
Legal Officer, International Law and Human Rights Program