Praises Japan’s commitment to the Court
On 3 April 2017, the President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, concluded an official visit to Japan at the invitation of the Japanese government. During her visit, President Fernández met with Prime Minister Shinzō Abe and thanked him for Japan’s commitment to the rule of law and its strong support of the International Criminal Court.
President Fernández also met with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Nobuo Kishi, Vice Minister of Justice Hiromu Kurokawa and Prosecutor General Katsuyuki Nishikawa, and gave a lecture at the University of Tokyo, where she engaged in dialogue with experts on international law.
During her meetings with government officials, the ICC President reiterated the Court’s gratitude for Japan’s political and financial support as well as its contribution to the judicial and institutional development of the ICC. The President noted the high number of non-States Parties remaining in the Asia-Pacific region, and thanked Japan for its commitment to enhance awareness in the region of the ICC’s work, and to encourage ratification of the Rome Statute.
After this visit, the President will travel to the Republic of Korea to participate in the ICC’s eighth high-level regional Seminar on cooperation on the theme “The ICC and Asia: the joint quest for justice, accountability and prevention”, aimed at enhancing dialogue and cooperation as well as encouraging greater participation of Asian States in the ICC.
Japan deposited its instrument of ratification of the Rome Statute on 17 July 2007. Out of the 124 States Parties to the Rome Statute, 19 are Asia-Pacific States.
