Participants of the regional Seminar in Quito on 7 June 2018 ©Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of Ecuador.
20 years of the Rome Statute: ICC and Ecuador hold High-Level Seminar on Cooperation in South America
On 7 and 8 June 2018, the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or the “Court”) and the Government of Ecuador, with the support of the European Commission, held a high-level regional seminar to foster regional cooperation in Quito, Republic of Ecuador. The event, titled “The ICC and South America: Opportunities and challenges for cooperation and the exchange of experiences within the framework of the 20 years of the Rome Statute”, took place at the Headquarters of the Secretariat of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).
This seminar was organized following the invitation by H.E. María Fernanda Espinosa, former Minister of External Relations and Human Mobility of Ecuador, and President-elect of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, to the Principals of the Court, in November 2017.
The President of the Assembly of States Parties, H.E. O-Gon Kwon, and the Registrar of the Court, Mr. Peter Lewis, met with the President-elect on the margins of the seminar, and expressed the Court’s deep appreciation for Ecuador’s support in co-organizing this important event.
High-level representatives of 11 countries, the ICC and regional, nongovernmental and intergovernmental organisations, discussed ways to promote and enhance cooperative relationships between the ICC and South American countries, taking stock of the 20 years of the Rome Statute, and reinforce the framework of justice and accountability created by the Statute.
At the end of the Seminar, participating states adopted a declaration which, amongst other things, reiterated the importance of the support of the States Parties in promoting the fundamental principles established by the Rome Statute and encouraged to continue efforts towards enhancing cooperation and achieving the universality of the Statute.
“Ecuador has permanently supported the Rome Statute and the role of the International Criminal Court in maintaining International Peace and Justice, “said H.E. José Luis Jacome, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of the Republic of Ecuador. “The fight against impunity is an essential component not only for the strengthening of justice, but also in the prevention of conflicts and in the reparation of victims and their families for the commission of the most serious crimes.”
“This Seminar is a testament to South American States’ commitment to the ICC and to the project for which it stands: an international legal order that respects the rights and dignity of human beings, and that upholds a just global society,” said ICC President Chile Eboe-Osuji. “This event is particularly fitting as we mark this year the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the ICC’s founding treaty, the Rome Statute. It provides us with a valuable opportunity to look back and share experiences accrued in our shared mission to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes. It also gives us a welcome opportunity to look forward, and discuss concrete steps to deepen and enhance our cooperation, so that we may realize the full potential of the Rome Statute.”
“We are looking forward to a constructive dialogue and exchange in the next two days, stated ICC Registrar Peter Lewis. “We know that States of South America are committed to the Court; we want to see how we can concretely help you to help us”.
“South America has played a pivotal role as one of the most widely represented regions amongst Rome Statute States Parties. This is actually a very unique situation where all South American States are parties to the Rome Statute,” said the
President of the Assembly of States Parties O-Gon Kwon.
“This level of commitment of this region to the fight against impunity since the very early stages of the inception of the International Criminal Court, already 20 years ago, leaves an indelible impression and deserves being emulated by other continents.”
During their visit to Quito, senior ICC officials also had the opportunity to meet with the President of the Republic of Ecuador, H.E. Lenín Moreno, as well as with the Minister of Justice, the President of the National Court of Justice, and the Attorney-General of Ecuador.
This seminar forms part of broader efforts to further advance cooperation with the Court. Experience from similar events organised in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean has demonstrated that such regional seminars provide a vital forum for high-level discussions to enhance global support for the Court.
