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STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER April 11, 2002 The following is the text of a statement by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien on the occasion of the 60th ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC): "This is truly a watershed moment for the cause of international justice and human decency. The 60th ratification of the ICC statute at a special ceremony today in New York culminates a more than half century quest to translate the concept of a permanent International Criminal Court into reality. The ICC is an historic response to the revulsion that civilized peoples the world over have expressed, time and again, at the repeated acts of horrific violence and hatred that have been committed over the years against innocent men women and children during times of conflicts. A permanent ICC will substantially enhance the power of the community of nations to bring to justice those who perpetrate genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The ICC Statute was also the first to recognize a wide range of crimes against women and children as war crimes, including sexual slavery and the recruitment of child soldiers. I am especially pleased to note that the ICC Statute will enter into force on July 1, 2002 — Canada Day. Canada was the first country to adopt comprehensive implementing legislation, and ratified the ICC Statute in July 2000. And we played a leadership role in chairing International Criminal Court negotiations, and in promoting the ratification and implementation of the ICC Statute. Today, I would like to congratulate all those who have worked so hard to establish the International Criminal Court, which the Secretary-General of the United Nations has heralded as a gift to future generations." - 30 - PMO Press Office : (613) 957-5555 |
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