The ICJ today urged the Interim Government of Thailand to ratify the Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court.
Six years ago, Thailand became the second country in Asia to sign the treaty.
“Thailand took a leading role in Asia when it signed the Rome Statute on 2 October 2000, which was followed by other countries in the region, including Cambodia and Mongolia also signing”, said the ICJ.
“Ratification of the Rome Statute by Thailand would be a practical demonstration of the Government’s stated commitment to the rule of law and would ensure that Thailand catches up with those countries in Asia that have now ratified the Statute”, added the ICJ.
The Prime Minister has stated publicly that re-establishing the rule of law is one of the four priorities of the Interim Government.
“By joining over 100 other countries that have ratified the Rome Statute, Thailand would signal that it believes justice and accountability for the worst human rights violations are central to the rule of law and a stable, just system of governance”, said the ICJ.
The call from the ICJ follows similar recent calls in Thailand itself from the Human Rights Committee of the Lawyers’ Council of Thailand and the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand.
The International Criminal Court has a mandate to try individuals for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community – genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, when a national court is unable or unwilling to do so itself.
Over 100 countries have so far ratified the treaty, including Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Colombia, Argentina, Cambodia, Mongolia and the Republic of Korea.
Countries yet to ratify, other than Thailand, include Angola, Israel, Bangladesh, Iran, Moldova, the United States, the United Arab Emirates and Sudan.
Thailand-ratify Rome Statute establishing-Pess releases-2006 (full text, PDF)
