EU official lauds PHL ratification of Rome Statute

An official of the European Union (EU) on Thursday lauded the Philippine's ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. "I warmly welcome the ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court by the Philippines... and congratulate the Government of the Philippines for their achievement. With its decision the Philippines once more confirmed its commitment to the rule of law, also globally," High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the EU Catherine Ashton said in a statement released Thursday. Last August, the Senate approved on third and final reading a resolution concurring in the ratification of the Rome Statute, which was signed by President Benigno Aquino III last February 28. The Rome Statute provides for the establishment of the ICC, which is based in The Hague, The Netherlands. Under the treaty, the ICC can step in only when countries are unwilling or unable to dispense justice when it comes to the “most serious crimes of concern to the international community, namely genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression." With its ratification, Ashton said that the Philippines joined the “ever-growing number of nations in the call that there should be no impunity for the most serious crimes." “The European Union has long supported the ratification of the Rome Statute. As the first permanent international judicial body capable of trying individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes when national courts are unable or unwilling to do so, the International Criminal Court represents one of the most significant opportunities the world has had to prevent or drastically reduce the deaths and devastation caused by conflict," she said. Currently, 116 states have either ratified or acceded to the Rome Statute. It came into force in July 2002 upon reaching 60 signatory States. — MRT, GMA News