Today, 23 August 2011, the International Criminal Court (ICC)
welcomed Grenada as a new State Party to the Rome Statute of the ICC in a
ceremony held at the seat of the Court in The Hague.
In a symbolic act, the President of the Court, Judge
Sang-Hyun Song, presented the Ambassador of Grenada, HE Mr Stephen Fletcher,
with a special edition of the Rome Statute of the ICC.
Commenting that Grenada was
continuing “a proud Caribbean tradition of supporting the International
Criminal Court”, the ICC President stated: “Each State that joins the ICC sends
out a powerful message that it does not tolerate genocide, crimes against
humanity or the other atrocious offences listed in the Statute, and it will not
provide refuge to those suspected of such crimes”.
The Vice-President of the Assembly of
States Parties (ASP) and Ambassador of Mexico, HE Mr Jorge Lomónaco, placed the
occasion in Grenada’s historical context: “After 300 years as a colony, an overthrow
of the government, an invasion in the mid-eighties and a full restoration of
democracy to follow, Grenada has come out as a strong and independent state of
the Caribbean Community”. That community, he added, is strongly committed to
“combating impunity and bringing justice to victims”.
Referring to the adage that “It is only necessary for good
men to do nothing for evil to triumph”, HE Ambassador Fletcher stated: “Today,
Grenada is acting to prevent the triumph of evil. Today, Grenada’s action is
sending a clear statement to the world, that it does not intend to allow crimes
against humanity to escape the global justice system”.
The ceremony was held in the presence of the Registrar, Ms
Silvana Arbia, the Deputy Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, and several judges of the
Court.
The government of Grenada deposited its instrument of
accession to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to the
UN on 19 May 2011. The Rome Statute took effect in Grenada on 1 August 2011,
making Grenada the 115th State
Party to the Rome Statute.
SOURCE: International Criminal Court
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