ICC officials participate in high-level Consultative Assembly of Parliamentarians on ICC in Senegal

On 9-10 December 2016, Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, President of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Ms Fatou Bensouda, ICC Prosecutor, participated in the 9th Consultative Assembly of Parliamentarians on the International Criminal Court and the Rule of Law (CAP-ICC) held on the occasion of the 38th Annual Parliamentary Forum of Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) in Dakar, Senegal, and hosted by the National Assembly of the Republic of Senegal. H.E. Sidiki Kaba, President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute and Minister of Justice of Senegal also participated.

The event brought together more than 100 members of parliament from 50 countries around the world and provided a valuable opportunity for the ICC to engage in dialogue with partners and brief the participants on the Court's activities. The Assembly benefited from the strong engagement of Senegal as the Host State of the event, including with the participation of H.E. Moustapha Niasse, President of the National Assembly, H.E. Mohammed Dionne, Prime Minister, as well as Judge Mamadou Badio Camara, President of the Supreme Court of Senegal.

ICC officials also met in the margins of the event with the Presidents of the National Assembly of Guinea, Mali and Niger, as well as Margarita Stolbizer, President of Parliamentarians for Global Action.

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The ICC President and Prosecutor expressed their appreciation for the crucial efforts of Parliamentarians for Global Action in promoting international criminal justice, as well as their gratitude to the National Assembly of Senegal for hosting the 9th Consultative Assembly focusing on the International Criminal Court and the Rule of law.

"As legislators, as elected representatives of the people, you have the power to support and strengthen international criminal justice in very concrete ways," said ICC President Fernández, addressing parliamentarians. "It is important for all States to incorporate the Rome Statute crimes in the national penal code and to address other issues such as immunities, and other general principles of criminal law. Legislators have a crucial role in ensuring ensure that their countries' domestic courts have adequate legal basis to prosecute core international crimes themselves," she emphasised.

President Fernández also underlined the importance of continued efforts toward universal ratification of the Rome Statute. "Joining the Statute signals the strong commitment of a country to international law and justice. It signals its solidarity with all victims of crimes across countries and continents and, above all, it is a step toward a more just future", she said.

In her remarks, ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda briefed participants about the activities of her Office in the past year, highlighting seven convictions, the important progress achieved with respect to the preliminary examination activities undertaken by her Office, and the adoption of two new comprehensive policies, on case selection and prioritisation, and on Children. The Prosecutor also stressed the importance of the role of States Parties and international community writ large in strengthening the global movement towards greater accountability for Rome Statute crimes through reinforced dialogue and cooperation. She emphasised: "we must all work together to create a more just world." 

The "Dakar Plan of Action on the Prevention of Mass Atrocities, Strengthening the Rule of Law and Support for the International Criminal Court" was adopted at the conclusion of the event on 10 December 2016, marking International Human Rights Day. In the document, participating parliamentarians expressed their strong commitment to work toward universal ratification of the Rome Statute, full cooperation with the ICC, promotion of fair and effective domestic prosecutions and the prevention of the most serious crimes.

Remarks by ICC President Silvia Fernández at Assembly opening, 9 December 2016

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 +31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: [email protected].

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