Today, 23 August 2011, the International Criminal Court (ICC) welcomed Grenada as a new State Party to the Rome Statute of the ICC in a ceremony held at the seat of the Court in The Hague.
In a symbolic act, the President of the Court, Judge Sang-Hyun Song, presented the Ambassador of Grenada, HE Mr Stephen Fletcher, with a special edition of the Rome Statute of the ICC.
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| Judge Sang-Hyun Song, President of the ICC ©ICC-CPI |
Commenting that Grenada was continuing “a proud Caribbean tradition of supporting the International Criminal Court”, the ICC President stated: “Each State that joins the ICC sends out a powerful message that it does not tolerate genocide, crimes against humanity or the other atrocious offences listed in the Statute, and it will not provide refuge to those suspected of such crimes”.
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| HE Mr Jorge Lomónaco, Vice-President of the ASP ©ICC-CPI |
The Vice-President of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) and Ambassador of Mexico, HE Mr Jorge Lomónaco, placed the occasion in Grenada’s historical context: “After 300 years as a colony, an overthrow of the government, an invasion in the mid-eighties and a full restoration of democracy to follow, Grenada has come out as a strong and independent state of the Caribbean Community”. That community, he added, is strongly committed to “combating impunity and bringing justice to victims”.
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| HE Mr Stephen Fletcher, Ambassador of Grenada ©ICC-CPI |
Referring to the adage that “It is only necessary for good men to do nothing for evil to triumph”, HE Ambassador Fletcher stated: “Today, Grenada is acting to prevent the triumph of evil. Today, Grenada’s action is sending a clear statement to the world, that it does not intend to allow crimes against humanity to escape the global justice system”.
The ceremony was held in the presence of the Registrar, Ms Silvana Arbia, the Deputy Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, and several judges of the Court.
The government of Grenada deposited its instrument of accession to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to the UN on 19 May 2011. The Rome Statute took effect in Grenada on 1 August 2011, making Grenadathe 115th State Party to the Rome Statute.
Speech of the President of the ICC, Judge Sang-Hyun Song
Speech of the Ambassador of Grenada, H.E. Mr Stephen Fletcher
Video footage of the event is available on YouTube, here.
For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or by e-mail at: fadi.el-abdallah@icc-cpi.
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