International Criminal Court

(asked on 6th February 2017) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to (1) the call of the African Union (AU), made at its annual heads of state summit in Addis Ababa, for the mass withdrawal of member states from the International Criminal Court (ICC), and (2) that part of the Addis Ababa Resolution that mandates the AU to hold talks with the UN Security Council calling for the reform of the ICC.


This question was answered on 20th February 2017

We regret the decision of any State Party to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC). We encourage any country considering leaving the ICC to discuss its concerns with fellow States Parties or directly with the Court.

We are aware of the draft decision at the AU Summit 22-31 January to adopt an "ICC withdrawal strategy". Our understanding is that the strategy does not actually call for mass withdrawal. It is a matter for each African state, and several African states reaffirmed their support for the Court.

The resolution is still in draft and we will be able to comment further once that becomes final.

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