Mauritius, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Cyprus have ratified in the last three days becoming the 53rd, 54th and 55th states respectively to have ratified the Rome Statute.

Amnesty International welcomes the commitment towards ending impunity for the worst crimes known to humanity, shown by these states and all countries that have ratified so far.

'At this important stage in the establishment of the Court, we are calling on all states to take immediate step to ratify the Statute and to enact effective implementing legislation, including, providing for full cooperation with the Court,' Amnesty International said.

Background

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court was adopted at a diplomatic conference on 17 July 1998. The Statute provides for the establishment of a permanent International Criminal Court to investigate and prosecute people accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. A provision was included in the Statute that 60 states must ratify the Statute before the Court can be established.

Amnesty International has been working, together with the more than 1000 members of the Coalition for an International Criminal Court, for the establishment of the International Criminal Court since 1993. Immediately following the adoption of the Rome Statute, Amnesty International launched a worldwide campaigning effort for all governments to ratify the Rome Statute and to enact implementing legislation providing for full cooperation with the Court.

Even after the 60th ratification has been deposited and the Court is established, Amnesty International will continue to campaign for all states to ratify the Statute. This will be essential, because, in many cases, the Court will only have jurisdiction if the crime was committed on the territory of a country that has ratified or by the national of a state that has ratified