Liberia just ratified ICC

News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International

International Criminal Court: Burundi and Liberia - Ratification is an
important commitment towards ending impunity

AI Index: IOR 51/010/2004 (Public)
23 September 2004

Amnesty International welcomes the ratifications by Burundi and Liberia
of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court as a major step
towards ensuring that there can be no impunity for the gravest possible
crimes under international law.

On 21 September 2004, Burundi became the 95th state to ratify the Rome
Statute and, yesterday, Liberia became the 96th state party. In the
light of the scale of the crimes under international law that have been
committed with impunity in Burundi and Liberia, these ratifications are
an important step in helping to deter the commission of such crimes in
the future.

"By ratifying the Rome Statute, Burundi and Liberia have committed
themselves to investigate and prosecute crimes of genocide, crimes against
humanity and war crimes. If either state is unable or unwilling to do
so, the Court may step in and exercise jurisdiction over crimes
committed in the future," Amnesty International said.

Having ratified the Rome Statute, it is now essential that Burundi and
Liberia review and amend their national laws to ensure that these
crimes can be investigated and prosecuted by national courts and that both
states can cooperate fully with the International Criminal Court.

"Burundi has incorporated some of the crimes covered by the Rome
Statute into national law, but must ensure that it has completely covered
genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. It must also enact
implementing legislation covering effective cooperation with the Court," the
organization said. "Liberia must likewise enact implementing
legislation defining the crimes in the Rome Statute and other crimes under
international law and providing for effective cooperation with the Court."

Amnesty International is also concerned that Liberia has signed an
unlawful impunity agreement with the USA, agreeing not to surrender US
nationals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes to the
Court. "The National Transitional Legislative Assembly must refuse to
ratify or implement any unlawful impunity agreement," Amnesty
International added.

Background

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, adopted on 17
July 1998, provides that the Court will have initial jurisdiction over
genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The International Criminal Court relies on states that have ratified
the Rome Statute to investigate and prosecute people accused of genocide,
crimes against humanity and war crimes in their national courts. The
Court will only step in when national courts are unable or unwilling to
do so.

On 23 June 2004, the Court’s Prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, announced
the opening of an investigation into grave crimes committed in the
Democratic Republic of Congo since 1 July 2002 (the date of entry into
force of the Rome Statute). On 29 July 2004, he announced the launch of an
investigation into crimes committed in northern Uganda. Six other
situations around the world are now being studied with a view to determining
whether to open investigations.