On the occasion of the International Criminal Justice Day, Amnesty International Nepal and Advocacy Forum Nepal jointly organized a virtual discussion programme entitled “Relevance of ratifying the Rome Statute in Nepal” on 16 July 2021. Around 150 participants joined the discussion.
17 July is observed as the International Criminal Justice Day every year to commemorate the historic adoption of the Rome Statute on 17 July 1998 and as a significant step towards the fight against impunity and struggle for justice to the victims of international crimes viz. war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and crimes of aggression.
Gita Rasaili (Activist), Suman Adhikari (Activist), Mohan Kumar Karn (Executive Director of THRD Alliance), Mandira Sharma (Senior International Legal Advisor of ICJ), Matias Hellman (External Relations Adviser at ICC Presidency) and Koshal Chandra Subedi (Joint Secretary at International Law, Human Rights & International Treaties Division under the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers) were the speakers at the event.
Welcoming all the speakers and the participants, AI Nepal Director Nirajan Thapaliya shared the objective of the discussion. “July 17, the historic day marked to observe the adoption of the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), serves as a reminder that there should be no safe haven for the perpetrators of the international crimes, and that the states should, therefore ratify the Rome Statute to the ICC and contribute towards ending impunity to the perpetrators,” Thapaliya said.
Activists Gita Rasaili and Suman Adhikari spoke about the range of human rights violations/crimes committed during the 1996-2006 armed conflict in Nepal and the challenges in accessing justice. Likewise, Mohan Kumar Karn brought the human rights violations from the post conflict period and continuing impunity to light for the discussion.
Hellman Matias, External Relations Adviser at ICC Presidency, informed the participants about the benefits of joining the Rome Statute and some key aspects of the International Criminal Court’s role and mandate.
Mandira Sharma discussed on the relevance of ratifying Rome Statute in Nepal in the context of stalled transitional justice process and the entrenched culture of impunity in the country.
Koshal Chandra Subedi, joint secretary at International Law, Human Rights & International Treaties Division under the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers shared that the government is committed towards acceding to the Rome Statute, and that the delays are due to the incomplete preparatory works as well as the geopolitical sensitivity. On 11 February 2009, the then Minister for Foreign Affairs Upendra Yadav had tabled the proposal for accession to the Statute at the parliament.
Although Mr Yadav’s proposal had created some grounds for the ratification of the Rome Statute, there has been no progress in moving towards the ratification of Rome Statute as of this date. Amnesty Nepal and AF call on the government to urgently initiate a process towards the ratification of the Statute.