« As in 2013, the ICC is faced at this ASP with proposals made by the government of Kenya that seriously undermine the Court’s independence and mandate. Not only do Kenyan authorities want to introduce immunities for sitting Heads of State and Government before the ICC, but they also requested that the ASP discusses matters that concern the Court’s handling of the Kenya cases. These attempts to interfere with the Court’s judicial and prosecutorial independence can not be tolerated » , said Patrick Baudouin, FIDH Honorary President.
During the 13th session of the Assembly, States Parties will elect six new ICC judges, as well as a new ASP President, Vice-Presidents and Bureau. FIDH welcomes the future election of the first African ASP President, Sidiki Kaba, former FIDH President. At a time when a new relationship between the ICC and the African Union is needed, FIDH wishes him all the success in his new leadership that should engage States to commit to defend the effective implementation of the spirit and letter of the ICC Statute.
At this Assembly, States Parties will also devote part of its plenary session to discuss cooperation, in particular in investigations and prosecutions on sexual and gender-based crimes. "States Parties should actively participate in the discussions and consider specific measures that they will adopt to support investigation and prosecution of sexual and gender-based crimes both internationally and domestically" , said Katherine Gallagher, FIDH Vice-President who will be participating in the ASP 13.
States Parties will also adopt the Court’s budget for activities of the ICC in 2015. FIDH calls upon the ASP to adopt a budget that allows the Court to respond effectively to the challenges of a growing number of preliminary examinations, investigations and prosecutions, so as to do the victims and accused justice.
States Parties will discuss proposals for amendments to the Rules of Procedural Evidence and to the Statute. They will provide guidance to the Court and other actors on matters including cooperation, complementarity, victims and affected communities, legal aid, and intermediaries. FIDH calls upon States parties to support the ICC efforts to combat impunity for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes and to protect the integrity of the Rome Statute. States parties should also promote genuine participation of victims in ICC proceedings, that represents a historic innovation of the Statute.
FIDH will be present with a delegation led by its Vice-Presidents, Katherine Gallagher (USA) and Shawan Jabarin (Palestine), and representatives from member and partners organisations from Kenya, Ukraine, Mexico, Libya, Israel and Palestine.
FIDH will, in particular, participate as speaker and/or organiser in the following events :
- CICC press conference on 9 December at 13:00
- FIDH-CCL-IPHR side event on Ukraine, "Ukraine, Addressing Impunity, and the International Criminal Court”, on 11 December 2014, from 13:15 to 14:30
- FIDH-CMDPDH side event on Mexico, "Accountability or International Crimes Committed in Mexico: the ICC as a Possible Remedy for Victims" on 11 December 2014, from 16:30 to 18:00,
- FIDH-NPWJ side event on Libya, "Accountability for Human Rights Violations in Libya” on 12 December 2014, from 13:15 to 14:30
- FIDH panel on victims’ rights "Reflecting on the ongoing structural and jurisprudential developments of victims rights at the ICC" on 15 December, from 13:15 to 14:30
Read FIDH Position Paper "Recommendations to the 13th Session of the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC Statute"
Read also FIDH Report "Five Myths about Victim Participation in ICC Proceedigs".