ICC must be strengthened not undermined
States must reject proposals that may interfere with or undermine the independence of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and take concrete measures to strengthen its ability to deliver justice to victims of international crimes, said Amnesty International.
The calls are timed to coincide with the start of the 14th Session of the Assembly of State Parties to the Rome Statute (ASP14) which takes place at The Hague, from 18-26 November 2015. In advance of the session, the governments of Kenya and South Africa have made requests for inclusion of
supplementary items in agenda which, if accepted, will hit at the heart of the ability of the ICC to tackle breaches of international law.
"The Assembly of State Parties must not interfere with the independence of the judiciary nor undermine the ability of the Court and its Prosecutor to pursue justice. To do so would not only betray the hopes for thousands of victims awaiting justice, it would damage the very bedrock of
international justice - the independence of the Court," said Netsanet Belay, Africa Director, Research and Advocacy, Amnesty International.
"The ICC remains the only path to justice for thousands of victims of serious violations of human rights across the world and African countries must help strengthen rather than to weaken the system."