Yesterday, 21 November 2013, Al-Haq presented an oral statement to the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

As a Palestinian human rights organisation committed to the protection and promotion of human rights and the rule of law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), Al-Haq highlighted the importance of ensuring universal ratification of the Rome Statute and urged Palestinian representatives to immediately do so. Al-Haq expressed concern that States Parties had blatantly discouraged or intentionally refrained from encouraging Palestine to ratify the Statute in light of political interests linked to the on-going negotiation process. This is particularly concerning due to the founding tenant of the ICC: that international crimes must not go unpunished.

The Twelfth session of the Assembly of States Parties is held in The Hague from 20 November until 28 November 2013.

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