President Song, Prosecutor Bensouda and ASP-President Intelmann: Humanity is bound together in a common quest to end impunity President Sang-Hyun Song and Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the President of the Assembly of States Parties, Tiina Intelmann, today concluded a three-day mission to South Africa. During their mission, President Song and Prosecutor Bensouda held bilateral meetings with key government and justice officials and engaged with civil society, academics, students, diplomats and the media in the context of Dialogues on Peace and Justice, a programme organised by the Royal Kingdom of the Netherlands, that brought a delegation of Hague-based international legal institutions to Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town for engagement with local stakeholders. Together with President Intelmann, they also participated in the conference: “Africa and the International Criminal Court: Lessons Learned and Synergies Ahead” organised by Africa Legal Aid (AFLA) in Johannesburg. In their meetings with South African officials, both President Song and Prosecutor Bensouda commended the leading role South Africa – one of the first countries to sign and ratify the Rome Statute – has played in the evolution of the ICC, through its continued support and cooperation. In his remarks, President Song underlined that South Africa, with its unique experience, has a tremendous amount to contribute to the global pursuit of peace and justice through the rule of law. “This country is known worldwide for the historic leap it made from apartheid to democracy, with the help of a process of truth-seeking and reconciliation,” he said. “While we work side by side with States, we must also look to each other for guidance. I think it is fitting to discuss how we can form synergies in the evolving international criminal justice system. We can look to States like South Africa for lessons in overcoming painful histories through accountability, but also how this can be achieved through truth-seeking and reconciliation.” During the AFLA conference, Prosecutor Bensouda stressed the link between accountability for mass crimes and the rule of law to stability, security and prosperity. She further emphasized the crucial importance of the support of the African Union (AU) for the work of the ICC. Together in a complementary fashion the ICC and the AU can cooperate and support one another to promote and implement their critical work with full respect for their respective mandates. As such, she welcomed opportunities for further dialogue and cooperation. “Attacks against civilians; sexual and gender-based violence in times of war and recruitment and use of children as soldiers are just some of the examples where the ICC and the AU can work together” said the Prosecutor. “In addition to sharing our policies on some of these issues, we can contribute to enhancing the AU’s efforts to stem the tide of these scourges by sharing our expertise and experiences in the investigation and prosecution of these grave crimes.” ASP President Intelmann, recalling the Assembly meeting last year, highlighted that States Parties, in the framework of the Assembly, have been open to addressing concerns of all States Parties. She further called for continued political support of States and other stakeholders for the Court: “We need to keep investing our energies in the fight against impunity and ensure the independence of the Court.” ICC Officials called for greater support for the Court. They reiterated the importance of our collective duty to never neglect the calls of victims whose rights and dignity have been trampled on by mass crimes. Today, thousands of African victims continue to suffer the brunt of mass atrocities. The ICC encourages and supports all genuine efforts at the national level aimed at bringing to justice, those alleged to be responsible for commission of mass crimes. In the absence of this primary responsibility, however, it would be an abdication of duty if the ICC were to fail to exercise its jurisdiction, especially when it is called upon to do so by African states themselves, in the face of such brutality. Ending impunity for mass crimes is a common responsibility of humanity as a whole and justice for victims of such grave crimes should never be sacrificed at the altar of political expediency.  

The OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, reported to the Executive Council today that 100% of all Category 1 chemicals declared by the Syrian Arab Republic, totalling approximately 1,040 tonnes, have now been verified as destroyed.  This includes 133 tonnes of Isopropanol previously destroyed on-site in Syria. The Director-General reported OPCW inspectors have also verified that 70% of approximately 260 tonnes of Syria’s Category 2 chemicals have been destroyed as well, and in total, 94% of its entire declared stockpile. He said work continues to complete destruction of remaining chemicals at four facilities in Finland, the United Kingdom, the United States and eventually, the destruction of effluent from the Cape Ray in Germany. “I wish to acknowledge, once again, the valuable contributions made by the States Parties involved in this extraordinary effort, especially in carrying out destruction of Category 1 chemicals in a rapid, effective and safe manner,” the Director-General said. The Special Coordinator for the OPCW-UN Joint Mission, Ms Sigrid Kaag, also addressed the Executive Council meeting and praised the international efforts to disarm Syria. “This operation has been an exemplary model of multilaterism at work,” Ms Kaag said. “We all have shown what can be achieved when all international partners work together towards a common goal.”

Statement by the OPCW Director-General on the Destruction of Syrian Chemicals Aboard the MV Cape Ray

In an unprecedented undertaking, the U.S. Maritime Vessel Cape Ray has completed destruction of its entire consignment of 600 metric tonnes of Category 1 chemicals from the Syrian Arab Republic. This ends a crucial stage in the complex international maritime operation to remove and destroySyria’s chemical weapons stockpile. I wish to congratulate and thank theUnited States, the crew aboard theCape Ray, and our OPCW inspectors and demilitarisation experts for this remarkable achievement. The Cape Ray’s consignment included the most dangerous chemicals inSyria’s arsenal: 581 metric tonnes of DF, a binary precursor for sarin gas, and 19.8 metric tonnes of ready-to-use sulfur mustard (HD). They were neutralised with two Field Deployable Hydrolysis Systems (FDHS) on theCape Ray, which reduced their toxicity by 99.9 percent in line with the requirements of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Furthermore, the operation was successfully completed weeks ahead of the 60-day schedule theU.S.had estimated would be needed, and OPCW inspectors aboard the ship verified that no chemicals of any kind escaped into the sea or otherwise impacted the environment. The Cape Ray will now transport the effluent from the hydrolysis operations to Finland and Germany, where it will be offloaded for disposal at land-based facilities.