Topic: Strengthening the International Criminal Court
Country: Portugal
Delegate Name: John Bihn
School: Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Portugal position papers GLIMUN 2011 committees
Portugal has been an ardent supporter of the idea of an International Criminal Court (ICC) ever since its creation by the Rome Statute. After years of consideration, the Rome Statute was brought into effect upon the ratification of the Statute by the 60th member states on July 1, 2002. From that point forward, the ICC has acted as a body in order to prosecute individuals for the gravest of war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. Many discussions about the Court’s role in the world have followed, with the most recent of which being the ICC Review Conference in Kampala.
There are several important clarifications that must be made about the ICC. Primarily, there is an overwhelming impression that the ICC unwillingly impedes the national sovereignty of UN members. It must be made clear that the ICC was not and is not designed to infringe upon national sovereignty, and in fact cannot interfere with non-consenting member states and non-member states alike. Additionally, there is great fear that the Court will be used as a political tool to prosecute individuals for political reasons. Portugal emphasizes that this indeed is not the case, and is strongly opposed to such a use of the ICC.
Portugal understands that several countries are still reluctant to give their full support to the ICC. However, Portugal strongly believes that the best remedy to the majority of the court’s problems is through the recognition of the court by all members of the United Nations. Bearing this in mind, Portugal encourages all non-member states to reopen discussions of ratification of the Rome Statute. Portugal believes that by keeping an open mind towards ratification, the members of the Security Council will be able to constructively assist the ICC.
