International Criminal Court ICC - Praising Cape Verde for ratifying the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), a coalition of some 2,500 right groups has said that the African country must ensure full cooperation with the ICC, PANA reported from here Thursday.

On 10 October, 2011, Cape Verde deposited its instrument of ratification of the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court, at the United Nations Headquarters, which is the final step in the ratification process, therefore becoming the 119th country worldwide, and the 33rd African State party.

“We congratulate the Cape Verdean Government and people for this landmark achievement, which has marked an advance in Africa’s commitment to justice,” Francis Dako, African regional coordinator for the coalition, remarked.

“It has been over a year since the last African state - Seychelles - joined ICC and it is hoped that this development will spur other states in Africa to take decisive and concrete steps towards fighting impunity by joining the Rome Statute system,” Dako noted.

One hundred and nineteen states have now joined ICC - five of which joined in 2011, reflecting a growing global consensus towards ending impunity through the Rome Statute system.

As a state party, Cape Verde will be able to actively participate in the annual Assembly of States Parties (ASP) of ICC, during which states make important decisions in relation to the administration of the court, including the election of judges and prosecutors.

Pana 14/10/2011