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Press Release
PCHR Welcomes Sixtieth Ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
Date: 14-Apr.,2002
Ref: 58/2002
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights welcomes the deposit of the sixtieth instrument of ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court on 11 April, as a significant step in the development of international justice.
The International Criminal Court, the Rome Statute of which will enter into force on 1 July 2002, is the first permanent international court established to try international crimes, including war crimes, crimes against humanity. Though the jurisdiction of the court is non-retroactive and is limited to crimes committed on the territory of, or by a national of a State party to the Rome Statute, its very establishment sends a signal to the all perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other human rights violations, that they can no longer continue to act with total impunity and that they may be held accountable for their crimes.
The Rome Statute was signed on 17th July 1998 by 124 states; according to article 126 of the Statute, 60 states must ratify the Statute before it can enter into force and the court be created. The first conference of States parties is due to take place in September this year and the court, itself, will be established in the Hague, the Netherlands, in 2003. A number of states have expressed their grave reservations, or even outright condemnation of the court, including China, Russia, the United States, and, significantly, Israel.
As a Palestinian human rights organisation working to bring justice to Palestinian victims of human rights violations, including war crimes, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights welcomes this development in international justice. Although Israel has thus far failed to ratify the Rome Statute giving the court jurisdiction over crimes committed in or by Israeli citizens, PCHR asserts that this does represent a development towards real justice for Palestinian victims of Israeli war crimes, including through its contribution to both the advancement of the principle of universal jurisdiction under customary international law, and the duty on all High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches of the Convention, i.e. war crimes.
PCHR calls upon the international community to ensure the effective implementation of the International Criminal Court, including through the ratification of the Rome Statute and its incorporation into domestic legislation. PCHR also calls upon international civil society to continue to pressure states to recognise their legal and moral responsibilities with regards accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity and other human rights violations. In particular, PCHR calls for pressure to be exerted by states and by civil society on Israel to ratify the Rome Statute giving the court jurisdiction over war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious crimes committed in Israel or by Israeli citizens.
