Statement by H.E. Ambassador OSUGA Takeshi, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the General Assembly 18th Plenary Meeting, on the Report of the International Criminal Court (Agenda Item 75)
2020/11/2
Thank you, Madam President.
Japan associates itself with the statement delivered by the distinguished representative of Germany. Allow me to add a few points in my national capacity.
Madam President,
Japan is a staunch supporter of the ICC, and is firmly committed to the fight against impunity and to the promotion of the rule of law. The ICC can give significant influence to this end. We are proud to have made significant contributions to the Court, as its largest financial contributor and by providing human resources.
Given its mandate and nature as a permanent court, the ICC should strive to be universal. Bearing this in mind, Japan has urged Asian countries in particular to become States Parties to the ICC. I would like to take this opportunity to, once again, call on all Non-States Parties to accede.
At the same time, Japan has stressed that the ICC should undertake its activities in a cooperative way vis-à-vis Non-States Parties. ICC should not close but rather opens its doors to Non-States Parties in order to increase the number of States Parties and to strengthen its legitimacy. From this perspective, Japan invites all States Parties as well as the ICC itself to promote greater cooperation with Non-States Parties.
In order to make the ICC universal, it is indispensable to maintain our interpretation on the principle of complementarity just as we had agreed when we adopted the Rome Statute. If the interpretation of this core principle of the ICC fluctuates, Non-State Parties cannot help but hesitate to accede to the Statute. States Parties are currently discussing the principle of complementarity in a working group, and Japan will actively participate in this discussion.
Madam President,
Finally, the ICC is a judicial body, but it is first and foremost an international organization. States Parties have the responsibility to ensure the good governance of the organization. It has been nearly 20 years since the Rome Statute came into effect, and now is the time to look back over our experiences and review the work of the Court. We therefore welcome the release of the report of the Independent Expert Review on 30 September this year. This report contains many useful recommendations, including on expediting investigations, prosecutions and trial processes, as well as on reinforcing the organizational strength of the ICC. Japan will actively participate in the discussions on those recommendations and contribute to the reform of the ICC.
I thank you, Madam President.
Japan associates itself with the statement delivered by the distinguished representative of Germany. Allow me to add a few points in my national capacity.
Madam President,
Japan is a staunch supporter of the ICC, and is firmly committed to the fight against impunity and to the promotion of the rule of law. The ICC can give significant influence to this end. We are proud to have made significant contributions to the Court, as its largest financial contributor and by providing human resources.
Given its mandate and nature as a permanent court, the ICC should strive to be universal. Bearing this in mind, Japan has urged Asian countries in particular to become States Parties to the ICC. I would like to take this opportunity to, once again, call on all Non-States Parties to accede.
At the same time, Japan has stressed that the ICC should undertake its activities in a cooperative way vis-à-vis Non-States Parties. ICC should not close but rather opens its doors to Non-States Parties in order to increase the number of States Parties and to strengthen its legitimacy. From this perspective, Japan invites all States Parties as well as the ICC itself to promote greater cooperation with Non-States Parties.
In order to make the ICC universal, it is indispensable to maintain our interpretation on the principle of complementarity just as we had agreed when we adopted the Rome Statute. If the interpretation of this core principle of the ICC fluctuates, Non-State Parties cannot help but hesitate to accede to the Statute. States Parties are currently discussing the principle of complementarity in a working group, and Japan will actively participate in this discussion.
Madam President,
Finally, the ICC is a judicial body, but it is first and foremost an international organization. States Parties have the responsibility to ensure the good governance of the organization. It has been nearly 20 years since the Rome Statute came into effect, and now is the time to look back over our experiences and review the work of the Court. We therefore welcome the release of the report of the Independent Expert Review on 30 September this year. This report contains many useful recommendations, including on expediting investigations, prosecutions and trial processes, as well as on reinforcing the organizational strength of the ICC. Japan will actively participate in the discussions on those recommendations and contribute to the reform of the ICC.
I thank you, Madam President.