Minister Malki: “Today the World is Closer to Ending Impunity and Achieving Justice”

ICC hosts welcome ceremony honoring the State of Palestine as a new State Party

This Wednesday afternoon, the ICC hosted an official ceremony welcoming the State of Palestine into the community of States Parties to the Rome Statute. Delivering a statement on behalf of the State of Palestine, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Riad Malki said, "this historical day for Palestine represents an important step towards combating impunity, upholding justice, defending human rights". The Minister added that the guiding principle of all Palestinian actions, including joining the ICC was the pursuit of justice and the advancement of human rights. "Palestine seeks justice, not vengeance... because it is the anchor on which a future of peace and stability can be firmly established", he said.

During the ceremony, the President of the Court, Judge Fernández de Gurmendi, presented a special edition of the Rome Statute to Minister Malki, who headed the Palestinian delegation. The Vice-President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, the Ambassador of Uruguay, H.E Mr. Álvaro Moerzinger, also commended Palestine on this occasion. Several high-ranking officials of the Court also attended the ceremony.

The Minister remarked, "For seven decades, the Palestinian people have endured crimes and injustice without recourse", highlighting the significance of this day; “As Palestine formally becomes a State Party to the Rome Statute today, the world is also a step closer to ending a long era of impunity and injustice. Indeed, today brings us closer to our shared goals of justice and peace.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs also underscored Palestine’s full confidence in the ICC and its commitment to advancing the principles of justice and respect for the law, calling on the international community "to protect this standing and confront malicious attempts aimed at undermining the credibility of the Court, attempts that are clearly motivated by a determination to preserve impunity and escape accountability, all at the expense of the law, human rights and peace and stability in our world."

The ceremony at the ICC celebrates the State of Palestine becoming the 123^rd State Party to the Rome Statute. On 31 December 2014, the government of the State of Palestine deposited its instrument of accession to the Rome Statute, which entered into force on 1 April 2015. The Government of Palestine also accepted, by means of a declaration under article 12(3) of the Rome Statute, the ICC jurisdiction since 13 June 2014. Accordingly, on 16 January 2015, the Prosecutor of the ICC announced the opening of a preliminary examination into the situation in Palestine.