Global Coalition Urges Sri Lanka to Ratify International Criminal Court Treaty
Ratification Would Strengthen Peace Process and Asia’s Voice in the Fight Against Impunity

(New York, 2 August 2005) – In a letter sent today to Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Lakshman Kadirgamar, the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC) – an international coalition of more than 2,000 non-governmental and civil society organizations that support the International Criminal Court (ICC) – urged Sri Lanka to accede to the Rome Statute of the ICC, the treaty that created the first permanent global court capable of trying individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. In their letter, the CICC urges Sri Lanka to join its neighbors in Asia including Cambodia, East Timor, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Tajikistan and, most recently, Afghanistan, who are all ICC member states, in order to help strengthen Asia’s voice within the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC.

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Greater support for the International Criminal Court in the Asian region is crucial for the growing global fight against impunity and for the defense of fundamental human rights.

The Coalition for the International Criminal Court and its members are calling on Sri Lanka to take a major step forward in its commitment to international justice and the rule of law by ratifying to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as soon as possible.

Asia remains poorly represented at the Court, and greater Asian participation is needed to ensure that the ICC is enriched by the diverse legal cultures of the region. Currently, Cambodia, East Timor, Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Afghanistan and Tajikistan are the only Asian States Parties to the ICC. While Thailand, the Philippines and Bangladesh have already signed the Rome Statute, they have yet to ratify. Sri Lanka’s accession to the Rome Statute would further strengthen the Sri Lankan peace process as it would be a clear demonstration of Sri Lanka’s commitment to upholding the highest international human rights.

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