Ukraine officially on January 1 became 125th country to join the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). From now on, the state receives the full status of a court participant, with all the relevant rights and obligations. The blue and yellow flag of Ukraine now flies in the court building among the flags of the participating countries.
ICC spokesman Fadi el-Abdallah noted that this status gives Ukraine the opportunity to participate in key processes: vote on the court’s budget, propose changes to the Rome Statute, elect judges, prosecutors and their deputies. According to him, this will allow Ukraine to contribute to the development of international criminal law.
“The most important among them is the right to vote when approving the budget, adopting changes and amendments to the Rome Statute, when choosing judges, the future prosecutor and his deputies, which to some extent helps shape the future of international criminal law.” – emphasized the spokesman of the ISS.
He explained that ICC judges must meet high qualification requirements, particularly in the field of international and criminal law, and be worthy of the highest judicial positions in their countries. Elections of six ICC judges are held every three years, and Ukraine will be able to nominate its own candidates.
“We hope that others will also take this as a signal, support it and participate in bringing us closer to the realization of the dream of the universality of the Rome Statute, when all states are united in the global fight against impunity and advocate for the construction of a more just world.” – concluded Fadi el-Abdallah.
