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ICC and IBA officials discuss Rome Statute

More than 65 International Criminal Court (ICC) officials met at the French Embassy in The Hague to discuss how to strengthen the Rome Statute system and get fair, effective, and accessible justice for victims of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression.

The International Bar Association’s (IBA) International Criminal Court and International Criminal Law (ICC & ICL) Programme convened (16 October) an expert roundtable to discuss state co-operation for the arrest and surrender of suspects accused of international crimes.

IBA executive director Mark Ellis commented: “The ICC depends on the co-operation of its state parties to arrest and surrender suspects.

“Without this co-operation, there are no trials, and no possibility of justice for victims of the most heinous crimes. This is a matter of the utmost importance for the court's future. The IBA supports the court and states parties in their efforts to develop lessons learned for better co-operation.”

Arrest and surrender

François Alabrune, Ambassador of France to the Netherlands, said that the arrest and surrender of suspects was a particular priority for France.

“State support is a condition for the sustainability of this unique international criminal jurisdiction with universal vocation,” he said.

ICC deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang delivered a keynote speech on the role of the office of the prosecutor in the tracking and arrest of suspects, and how to improve state co-operation.

The second edition of the IBA ICC & ICL’s publication ‘Strengthening the International Criminal Court and the Rome Statute System: A Guide for States Parties’ was also launched at the event.