On November 16-17 Kyiv hosted the 40th Annual Forum of Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) and the 10th Consultative Assembly of Parliamentarians on the International Criminal Court and the Rule of Law (CAP-ICC)

Information Department of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Secretariat
19 November 2018, 09:30

"Choosing Kyiv as the jubilee forums host demonstrates solidarity with Ukraine and support of our people in the difficult times of Russia's aggression against our state. I am confident that this event, attended by a hundred and odd parliamentarians from all over the world, will vastly contribute to the prompt and timely ratification of the Rome Statute by Ukraine and its full-fledged membership in the International Criminal Court," stated the head of the Committee on Human Rights, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations Hryhorii  Nemyria.

He also reminded the parliament had twice (in 2014 and 2015) appealed to the International Criminal Court for recognition of its jurisdiction as per the Rome Statute.

"Ukraine's recognition of the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court is not just a symbolic step.  For Ukraine, the ICC’s investigations is a real and, in fact, the only chance to see those responsible for the aggression and occupation of the Crimea and the Donbas on the dock.  The next step should be ratification of the Rome Statute, which will strengthen the influence of our state upon internal processes in the ICC," said Svitlana Zalishchuk, MP.

During the forum, there was adopted the Kyiv Action Plan aimed to increase the ICC’s effectiveness and to assist countries in implementing the Rome Statute. Within the plan, members of the "Parliamentarians for Global Action" are committed to make every possible effort in cooperation with international organizations, civil society and national governments in order to ratify the Rome Statute by as many countries as possible, to join the ICC and to harmonize national legislations with the Rome Statute's requirements pointed at avoidance of impunity and prosecution of those responsible for crimes against humanity, genocide, as well as war and aggression crimes.

In addition, the document states that the parliamentarians "recognize that impunity for those who committed crimes against humanity and serious war crimes in situations that affect territorial integrity and political independence of Ukraine, constitutes a threat to peace and security in the world, and that these actions are internationally illegal and thus require immediate improvement and renewal of Ukraine’s sovereign rights over its territory as well as restoration of the human rights".

The forum was attended by Ukrainian and foreign parliamentarians, representatives of central executive authorities and public organizations of Ukraine.