Latvia, Poland and Spain ratify the amendments to the Rome Statute on article 8 related to war crimes and on the crime of aggression

Press Release
Publishing Date
Reference Number
ICC-ASP-20140929-PR1044
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The President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, Ambassador Tiina Intelmann, warmly welcomed the deposit on 25 September 2014 of the instruments of ratification of the 2010 amendments to the Rome Statute of Latvia, by H.E. Mr. Edgards Rinkevis, Minister of Foreign Affairs; of Spain, by H.E. Mr. José Manuel García-Margallo Marfil, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; and of Poland, by H.E. Ms. Henryka Mościcka-Dendys, Deputy Foreign Minister and Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The 2010 amendments to the Rome Statute are two sets of amendments that were adopted by consensus at the first Review Conference of the Rome Statute, held in Kampala, Uganda. The first of these amendments pertains to article 8 of the Rome Statute, which characterizes the use of certain weapons during non-international armed conflict as war crimes. The second concerns provisions for the exercise of jurisdiction of the Court over the crime of aggression.

The deposit of the instruments of ratification by Latvia, Poland and Spain brings the number of ratifications of the crime of aggression to eighteen. "These ratifications signal the resolve of States Parties to adopt concrete measures to establish accountability and to prevent the crime of aggression," stated President Intelmann. "I am encouraged by these ratifications and I am hopeful that other States Parties from all regions will follow suit."

Latvia ratified the Rome Statute on 28 June 2002. In 2005, it adopted legislation to ensure cooperation with the Court, as well as some aspects of the definitions and principles of the crimes contained in the Rome Statute. On 23 December 2004, it ratified the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the Court (APIC). Poland ratified the Rome Statute on 12 November 2001. In 2005 and 2004, it adopted legislation incorporating the Rome Statute crimes and provisions on cooperation, respectively, into domestic law. On 10 February 2009 it ratified the APIC. Spain ratified the Rome Statute on 25 October 2000. In 2003, it adopted legislation incorporating the Rome Statute crimes and provisions on cooperation into domestic law. On 24 September 2009 it ratified the APIC.

Crime of aggression amendments
UN Treaty Collection- Ratification participants list

Article 8 amendment
UN Treaty Collection - Ratification participants list

 

 

Source
Assembly of States Parties