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Madagascar: Country Becomes 106th State to Join International Criminal Court
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International Criminal Court (Hague)
PRESS RELEASE
14 March 2008
Posted to the web 14 March 2008
New York
Today, the Republic of Madagascar formally joined the International Criminal Court (ICC) by depositing its instrument of ratification to the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the ICC, at the United Nations. Madagascar is the 106th state party, and the 30th African state to join the Court.
“As the International Criminal Court presses on with its four investigations on the continent--Uganda, DRC, Darfur and the Central African Republic--it is now crucial that African nations join in solidarity with victims of these brutal crimes to ensure justice nationally and internationally,” said Brigitte Suhr, director of regional programs for the Coalition for the International Criminal Court. “Madagascar’s ratification today brings us one important step closer to universal support for the ICC in Africa.”
Madagascar’s ratification of the Rome Statute comes almost ten years after the state initially signed the treaty on 18 July 1998, one day after the historic adoption of the Rome Statute. A number of legal and constitutional hurdles delayed the process.
The Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC), a global network of more than 2,500 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) advocating for a fair, effective and independent International Criminal Court, welcomed Madagascar’s ratification of the Rome Statute.
“Madagascar’s ratification is not only in step with the growing international support for the Court, it is consistent with the African Union’s stated priority that its member states ratify the Rome Statute,’ said Francis Dako, Francophone Africa Coordinator for the CICC. “We now call on all remaining African nations to join the Court without further delay.”
Maria Raharinarivonirina, Chair of Action by Christians Against Torture (ACAT) in Madagascar, the organization coordinating the activities of the Coalition for the ICC, noted the following: “ACAT-Madagascar appreciates the efforts of the government in joining the international justice system. ACAT-Madagascar also appreciates the vital role played by civil society organizations and, expects that Madagascar’s ratification will encourage other Indian Ocean countries and southern African states who have yet to join the ICC.”
Civil society organizations in Madagascar played a significant role in campaigning for the ratification of the Rome Statute and the adoption of the constitutional referendum allowing ratification. Civil society was also instrumental in broadly publicizing the referendum once it had been adopted in order to put further pressure on the government to finalize the ratification process.
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The CICC calls on Madagascar to proceed quickly with the ratification of the Court’s Agreement on Privileges and Immunities as well as implement the Rome Statute into domestic law. “Implementation of the Rome Statute will empower the Madagascar domestic courts to exercise their jurisdiction over international crimes included in the Rome Statute,” stated Ms. Raharinarivonirina.
The CICC further encourages other states to join Madagascar in ratifying the Rome Statute in this historic year, in which July 17 will mark the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute.
“My expectation is that African States who have yet to join the ICC will now be motivated to do so,” added Mr. Dako. “They can no longer ignore the common values of justice and peace that are leading more nations around the world to heed the call for justice, and join the ICC.”
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