Asian states urged to ratify criminal court treaty

BRUSSELS - The European Union (EU) Friday welcomed the ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) by Bangladesh, EuAsiaNews reported.

“This ratification Tuesday, bringing the number of ICC states parties to 111, marks a further significant step forward in the international community’s efforts to combat impunity for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. I hope that this accession will encourage other countries in Asia to consider ratifying of the statute,” Catherine Ashton, EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said in a statement Friday.

Bangladesh is the first South Asian country to ratify the Rome Statute.

Ashton noted that the 27-member European bloc has long supported the ratification by Bangladesh of the Rome Statute and voiced her conviction that Bangladesh will make a highly valuable contribution to the Court’s work.

“I would like to seize this occasion to reiterate the European Union’s commitment to the universality and integrity of the Rome Statute and call upon states which have not yet done so to accede to the Rome Statute,” the statement added.