Bangladesh extends 'unequivocal' support to Rome Statute

Bangladesh has reiterated its “unequivocal” support to the Rome Statute and to the International Criminal Court to bring an end to the impunity to crimes against humanity and war crimes.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam expressed this support at the 15th Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute on Wednesday in The Hague, the foreign ministry said on Thursday.

Alam informed the Assembly of States Parties of the ICC about Bangladesh’s ongoing efforts to bring to justice those who committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during our War of Liberation in 1971 to end the culture of impunity.

He stressed that this effort had created “a new paradigm” in the international criminal justice system by allowing purely domestic courts the mandate to hold trials for internationally defined crimes in full conformity with the ‘complementarity’ principle of the Rome Statute.

He also expressed Bangladesh’s commitment to work towards preventing sexual and gender-based violence during armed conflicts, and reaffirmed Bangladesh’s readiness to share experiences with others.

In this regard, he highlighted the government’s decision to recognise the women and girls who had been violated and tortured during the War of Liberation in 1971.

Alam also referred to Bangladesh’s contribution to the ICC’s Trust Fund for Victims as the Chair of The Hague Working Group Facilitator for Victims with a view to making a real difference in the lives of victims around the world.

He also called upon all to ensure fair geographical and gender representation at the ICC, including dedicated funding arrangements for applicants for internship and visiting professional programmes at the ICC from the Least Developed Countries.

On the sidelines, the state minister exchanged views with the President of the International Criminal Court, President of the Assembly of States Parties and the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on issues of mutual interest, the foreign ministry said.

He also joined the official launching event of the Office of the Prosecutor’s Policy Paper on Children and urged the ICC to make complete use of the regulatory framework to address crimes against children and issues relating to children in their best interests within the jurisdiction of the ICC.