The President of the Assembly of States Parties (“the Assembly”), Ambassador Tiina Intelmann, visited Addis Ababa from 22 to 24 October 2012. Her visit comes at a time when States Parties are preparing for their next annual session to be held from 14 to 22 November 2012 in The Hague.
The President used her presence in Addis Ababa to meet with representatives of States Parties and with officials of the African Union (“AU”) Commission. In her meetings, she noted the AU’s common resolve to fight impunity and discussed further ways of mutual interaction. She used her meetings to explore ways of cross-regional support to ensure accountability for international crimes and of promoting better understanding of the functioning of the Rome Statute system in Addis Ababa. The President also used the opportunity to better inform herself of the views on the International Criminal Court (“the Court”) from the perspective of the AU and its Member States. President Intelmann briefed her interlocutors on her own activities and those of the Assembly, especially in areas of domestic capacity building and achieving universality of the Rome Statute.
Speaking at a Salon diplomatique, Ambassador Intelmann noted the renewed interest of the international community in the Court: on 17 October, the United Nations Security Council held its first-ever open debate on peace and justice with a focus on the Court.
The President expressed her appreciation to all States Parties that took the floor during the open debate to reiterate their support for the Court and their commitment to the fight against impunity for the most serious crimes under international law. Many States Parties, noted the President, addressed the relationship between the Security Council and the Court, indicating ways to make the relationship more efficient and calling for consistent follow-up by the Council. The President also addressed misperceptions about the Court and the importance of continued political support of States Parties.
President Intelmann’s visit followed the second joint AU-ICC technical seminar, which took place in Addis Ababa on 17 and 18 October 2012. The President thanked H.E. Mr. Libère Bararunyeretse, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the International Organization of La Francophonie to the AU for La Francophonie’s assistance in the preparation of this seminar, as well as for its continued support for the Court.
ICC Press Release on Security Council Open Debate
ICC Press Release on African Union-ICC joint seminar
ASP11 section on ASP website
PASP statement in the UNSC
United Nations Security Council SC/10793 (English)
Le Conseil de sécurité des Nations SC/10794 (Français)
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