On 22 March 2023, H.E. Mr Rodrigo Alberto Chaves Robles, President of Costa Rica, visited the International Criminal Court (ICC), where he was received by ICC President Judge Piotr Hofmański, ICC Registrar Mr Peter Lewis and ICC Registrar Elect Mr Osvaldo Zavala Giler. As part of the Costa Rican delegation was also the Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr Arnoldo André Tinoco and H.E. Mr. Arnoldo Brenes Castro, Ambassador of Costa Rica to the Netherlands.
Thanking President Chaves for his visit and for Costa Rica’s multifaceted and sustained support of the Court, President Hofmański stated: “The leadership Costa Rica has shown during the first two decades of the ICC is of immense importance for international criminal justice. As the Court faces a heavy workload, the commitment and cooperation of the States Parties to the Rome Statute remains as important as ever for the delivery of the ICC’s mandate.”
Costa Rican President H.E. Mr. Rodrigo Alberto Chaves Robles stated: “In these times of great global challenges, it is essential to have an independent and impartial International Criminal Court to guarantee that the worst international crimes do not go unpunished. Costa Rica reaffirms its unwavering commitment to international criminal justice, the integrity of the Rome Statute and the protection of the judicial independence of the International Criminal Court. It is equally essential to ensure justice for victims, including through assistance, especially to the most vulnerable, as well as the rehabilitation of those who have suffered physical and psychological trauma. We must continue to vigorously promote the Rome Statute to achieve its universality.”
The visit of President Chaves to the ICC highlights Costa Rica’s commitment to the Court and the joint efforts deployed in the fight against the impunity of the perpetrators of the most serious crimes that affect the international community as a whole. Costa Rica signed the Rome Statute on 7 October 1998 and deposited its instrument of ratification of the Rome Statute on 7 June 2001.
