NEWS RELEASES
CANADA WELCOMES CREATION OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
July 1, 2002 (4:00 p.m. EDT) No. 74
CANADA WELCOMES CREATION OF
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham today welcomed the entry into force of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal
Court (ICC).
"This is a great day for international justice. I commend all countries that have signed and ratified the ICC Statute and
individuals who have worked so hard to make the ICC a reality," said Minister Graham. "While the ICC enjoys
unprecedented international support, there are still challenges that lie ahead. Continued state and public engagement will be
essential to the Court during this crucial phase of its existence."
The ICC is the first-ever permanent international criminal court. It has jurisdiction to try individuals for genocide, crimes
against humanity and war crimes. The ICC Statute also contains major developments in the areas of victims' rights and
gender justice under international law.
Fundamental to the ICC is the principle of complementarity, which ensures that the Court may only take cases in the event
that national courts are unable or unwilling to investigate or prosecute.
The first meeting of countries that have ratified the ICC Statute is scheduled for September 3 to 10, 2002, in New York, at
which time procedures for the nomination of the ICC's judges and prosecutor will be adopted. Elections will take place in
early 2003. Preparations are well under way to ensure that the International Criminal Court becomes fully operational
shortly thereafter.
- 30 -
A backgrounder is attached.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
Backgrounder
CANADA AND THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) was adopted on July 17, 1998. Canada signed the ICC Statute
on December 18, 1998. On June 29, 2000, Canada was the first country in the world to adopt comprehensive legislation, in
the form of the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act, which implements the crimes and obligations of the ICC
Statute into Canadian law. Canada ratified the ICC Statute on July 7, 2000.
The ICC is the first permanent international criminal court. It has jurisdiction to try individuals for genocide, crimes against
humanity, war crimes and, once a suitable definition is adopted, the crime of aggression.
The ICC is designed to complement, not replace, national courts and will exercise jurisdiction where national courts are
unable or unwilling to investigate or prosecute. The ICC Statute provides the tools to ensure that the Court is an
independent and effective institution, and contains sufficient procedural safeguards to ensure that the Court operates in a
responsible manner, respectful of due process.
The crimes over which the ICC has jurisdiction are carefully defined in accordance with established customary international
law. The ICC Statute contains a number of provisions to address the unique plight of women and children in armed
conflict. The ICC Statute recognizes rape, sexual slavery and other forms of sexual violence as war crimes and crimes
against humanity, and also recognizes the enlistment or use of children under 15 in armed conflicts as a war crime.
Canada has been a driving force behind the creation of the International Criminal Court.
A Canadian, Philippe Kirsch, chaired the International Criminal Court negotiations and serves as Chair of the ongoing ICC
preparations.
Launched in September 2000, Canada's ongoing International Criminal Court Campaign provides technical assistance to
countries seeking to ratify and implement the ICC Statute. Other goals of the campaign are to help ensure the effective
functioning of the Court and to conduct education and outreach on the ICC.
The ICC Campaign has sponsored many regionally and thematically diverse projects. These include ratification and
implementation workshops in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, the South Pacific and the Middle East, as well as
sessions on gender, youth and defence issues.
Seventy-five countries have ratified the ICC Statute. One hundred and thirty-nine countries had signed the ICC Statute by
the December 2000 deadline. A total of 60 countries were required to ratify the ICC Statute in order for it to enter into
force. This number was exceeded on April 11, 2002, when 10 countries simultaneously deposited their instruments of
ratification at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The first meeting of the Assembly of States Parties of the ICC is scheduled for September 3 to 10, 2002, in New York. At
that meeting, the Elements of Crimes and the Rules of Procedure and Evidence for the Court will be considered, and
procedures will be adopted for the nomination of the ICC's judges and prosecutor.
Additional information on the International Criminal Court is available at: http://www.icc.gc.ca
| 
