Press Statement on:
THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ICC: THE FIGHT AGAINST IMPUNITY AND THE PREVENTION OF MASS CRIMES IN THE FUTURE OF CAMBODIA.
Phnom Penh, Monday 2nd July 2012, half-day conference at the Hotel Le Royal – Raffles, Organized by ADHOC
ADHOC is honoured to present different resource speakers taking a look at the general ratification process in Asia & The Pacific to the progress of implementation under the principle of complementarity in harmonizing the national legislation with the crimes under the Rome Statute and its cooperation obligations.
10 years ago, on 1st July 2002 the Rome Statute entered into force creating the permanent International Criminal Court (ICC). Today, 121 States, more than two thirds of the world’s countries, from all regions of the world are Parties to this Statute. The ICC has opened investigations in 7 situations and 15 cases against persons accused of being those most responsible for crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide. To support the ICC, The Coalition for an International Criminal Court (CICC) is conducting efforts in the Asia-Pacific region for a regional ratification campaign and has achieved great success with 17 ratifications in the Asia-Pacific region. Thereby, CICC relies on focal points in each country, and ADHOC is acting as the CICC focal point in Cambodia.
As the first country in Southeast Asia Cambodia has signed the Rome Statute on 23rd October 2000 and ratified it on 11th April 2002. Cambodia is the first country in the region that has ratified the Rome Statute and is a shining example for its neighbouring states to initiate similar efforts.
- We are therefore calling upon the Cambodian Government as a chair of ASEAN and founding member of the ICC, to support and advocate with other ASEAN countries to ratify the Rome Statute among the governments of the region.
Cambodia has also started to implement the treaties obligations into its domestic laws.
There are yet still challenges to be solved, in particular regarding complementarity and cooperation legislation.
- With respect to implementation, we urge the Cambodian Government to:
– fully implement the Rome Statute into domestic legislation;
– improve the implementation of provisions on crimes against humanity and war crimes;
– integrate legislation on cooperation with the ICC in the new Criminal Procedural Code or draft and adopt a new separate law;
At the Review Conference in 2010 in Kampala State Parties agreed on the definition of the crime of aggression. States are expected to enforce this definition.
- We therefore urge the Cambodian Government to ratify the crime of aggression accordingly.
Moreover, Cambodia has not acceded the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the ICC (APIC).
- We request the Government to do so in due course so that the Court’s official can carry out their functions in an effective and independent manner.
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For further information or comment please contact:
- Mr. THUN Saray, President ADHOC: 016 880 509
- Mr. LATT Ky, Project Coordinator of KRT Justice Program: 012 82 84 11
- Mrs. Evelyn Balais-Serrano, Coordinator for Asia-Pacific CICC, +63 9178949786
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