The United States, China, Russia, Israel, Syria, Libya, India, Pakistan and Myanmar are states which have yet to do what Grenada did last week, join the International Criminal Court by becoming State Parties to the Rome Statute. There are some shared characteristics among those that have joined: they tend to be more focused on the rule of law and many are the most successful democracies in terms of economic as well as political rights. They include most of Europe (UK to Poland) but also states as Australia, Bangladesh, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Candada, Colombia, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Senegal and Tanzania is but a sample.


Caribbean Support
The Caribbean region is one of the most successful in ICC membership. The drive for the ICC had its impetus in states as Trinidad and Tobago and has been nurtured in the NGOs and government institutions of the region.


“Cannot lecture others on the rule of law if you hold yourself out as an exception to its application”
It will become increasingly evident, in my opinion, that those who have not adopted the ICC-Rome Statute are isolated from the general trend toward universal jurisdiction of international criminal law. Washington, New Delhi, Moscow and other big as well as small hold outs will find it ever more difficult to be convincing in their assertions of respect and support for the rule of law. Simply stated, you cannot lecture others on the rule of law if you hold yourself out as an exception to its application.


Rejecting the Death Penalty
The ICC will also have increasing influence on domestic criminal laws and procedures. The ICC calls upon members to implement complementary legislation. However, the influence extends to such matters as executions. During our debates in Rome toward the Rome Statute in 1998, we rejected such a sentence as inconsistent with evolving legal and civilized principles. (I was one of signatories on behalf of Bosnia at Rome in 1998).

ICC Press Statement
“The government of Grenada deposited its instrument of accession of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to the UN. The Statute will enter into force for Grenada on 1 August 2011, bringing the total number of States Parties to the Rome Statute to 115. The ICC applauds Grenada’s decision to join the international community’s efforts to put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes that threaten the peace, security and well-being of the world.
The President of the Assembly of States Parties, Ambassador Christian Wenaweser, welcomed the accession by Grenada, which takes place immediately after the seminar hold by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM ) on the ICC held in in Port of Spain on 16 and 17 May, where he had participated and exchanged views with Government representatives on how to enhance universality and the implementation of the Statute in the region.
The accession by Grenada, which brings to 12 the number of CARICOM members that are parties to the Rome Statute, constitutes a reaffirmation of the region's commitment to international criminal justice in general and the ICC in particular, as it was from the region that the initiative for the establishment of an international criminal court began in 1989. The Assembly looks forward to having the entire membership of CARICOM join the Rome Statute in the near future.

Related Reports at “War Crimes Justice” Channel - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/c/war-crimes-justice

---“International Criminal Court Report” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/international-criminal-court-report/23634

---“Career-Join ICC Coalition” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/careerjoin-icc-coalition/23635

By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey
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