International Criminal Court President Judge Sang-Hyun Song and Secretary General of La Francophonie
“The International Organisation of La Francophonie has been a strong supporter of the ICC since the Court’s early days”, said ICC President Judge Sang-Hyun Song. “Signing this cooperation agreement is a natural step for our two organisations, which share similar values of fundamental importance to the humankind”, he declared, adding: “Our strengthened cooperation will be essential to promoting peace, human rights and the rule of law”.
“I am delighted that the International Organisation of La Francophonie is solemnly formalizing its commitment at your side upon the tenth anniversary of the Rome Statute’s entry into force", said the Secretary General of La Francophonie Abdou Diouf on this occasion. "I am confident that, as is our duty and responsibility, we will do everything possible to ensure that the permanent Court, over which you preside, is able to always better exercise its powers”, he said addressing President Song.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding, the two organisations will enhance their cooperation in promoting the principles and values enshrined in the Rome Statute – the International Criminal Court’s founding treaty, and in particular norms of international humanitarian law. The agreement helps formalize the exchange information and materials between the ICC and the IOF, the organisation and participation in joint meetings and conferences on issues of common interest, as well as the development of training and assistance programmes for legal professionals in IOF member states regarding the Court’s work with a view to implementing the complementarity regime.
During the signing ceremony, ICC President Song thanked the IOF for its sponsorship of a number of regional seminars on the ICC and expressed his gratitude to all the individual La Francophonie member states for their support, stressing that currently 51 member or observer States of La Francophonie are parties to the Rome Statute. President Song also commended the Secretary-General of La Francophonie for his personal, long-lasting commitment to justice. “The ICC has earned its place among permanent international institutions in charge of questions of international law, peace and justice. This would not have been possible without the commitment of determined individuals around the world, including His Excellency Mr Diouf who was, in his previous capacity, the first Head of State to sign and to ratify the Rome Statute”, President Song stated.
The ICC is the first permanent, treaty-based, international criminal court established to help end impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community, namely war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
Remarks by ICC President Judge Sang-Hyun Song:
http://www.icc-cpi.int/NR/rdonlyres/F9D6A34D-7772-4566-B936-E94800F8125D/0/120928OIFMemorandumOfUnderstandingRemarksENG.pdf
Press release of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (French):
http://www.francophonie.org/L-OIF-et-la-Cour-penale.html
----
For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or +31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: fadi.el-abdallah@icc-cpi.int.
The International Criminal Court (ICC)
Fadi El Abdallah
281-645-4086
fadi.el-abdallah@icc-cpi.int.
Source: EmailWire.Com
