NAN-H-125
ICC
By Isaac Aregbesola
Abuja, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, has urged members of the international community to “place collective shoulder behind the International Criminal Court (ICC)”.
Zeid made the appeal in a statement posted on the UN Human Right twitter handle @UNHumanRights, accessed by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.
He made the appeal in the wake of a spate of withdrawals by many nations, especially from Africa.
Three African countries of South Africa, Gambia, and Burundi had already indicated their intent to withdraw from ICC.
Zeid declared:“I am saddened by this state of affairs. The African countries have been the backbone of this Court, and their leadership, especially in the early days, was exemplary.
“I am pleased many African countries, including Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Malawi, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia and Sierra Leone have signalled they will not leave.
“Today’s challenges are not the first stern test faced by the Court, and they will not be the last. A new trend of isolationist and unprincipled leadership is building up across the world.
“Renewed attacks on the court may well be in the offing. It will take all the nerve and resources of the truly committed states parties to resist such challenges.
“Now is not the time to abandon the post. This is the time for resolve and strength.”
Zeid spoke as Russian declared on Wednesday that it was formally withdrawing its signature from the founding statute of the ICC, saying the tribunal has failed to live up to the hopes of the international community.
According to Zeid, victims of core crimes will struggle to understand why they are abandoned by these states together with those which never acceded and why they are made victim again. (NAN)
IAA/DO: Edited by David Onilede/Morayo Omolade
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