An August 31, 2011 press release from the Department of Foreign Affairs
The Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations in New York reported that the Philippines deposited the Instrument of Ratification to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) with the Secretary-General of the United Nations on August 30.
The deposit was made in simple ceremonies at the UN Office of Legal Affairs Treaty Section and made the Philippines the 117th state to join the Rome Statute system. It was witnessed by Senator Loren Legarda, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair.
“The Philippines, a democracy that champions international law and the rule of law, views being party to the Rome Statute of the ICC as a vital part of the on-going global campaign to end impunity and violence against individuals and to further strengthen a rules-based international system, specifically in relation to international human rights law and humanitarian law,” Philippine Permanent Representative Ambassador Libran Cabactulan said.
“It is a clear signal of the importance with which the Philippines places to this treaty,” he added.
Ambassador Cabactulan further elaborated that, “The ICC also serves as a deterrent against genocide and other heinous crimes and ensures that all perpetrators of these serious crimes of concern are held accountable.”
The ICC is an independent international body, separate from the United Nations system and is the first permanent international court that deals specifically with the gravest crimes facing humanity.
It is based in The Hague, Netherlands and has jurisdiction over individuals from States that are parties to the treaty in cases involving genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The ICC is made up of a Presidency, Judicial divisions, Office of the Prosecutor, Registry, and other offices. The United Nations Security Council may refer cases to the Prosecutor who may also start investigations. The cases considered by the Court since 2002 have been mostly in Africa, such as Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic.
President Benigno S. Aquino III signed the Instrument of Ratification last May 6, while the Philippine Senate concurred on August 24, thus paving the way for the deposit of the instrument of ratification.
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago sponsored Senate Resolution Number 546, which gave the Senate’s concurrence. Senator Legarda was co-sponsor.
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