Diplomats urge removing ICC jurisdiction limits at Seoul event

Korea Herald

15-04-2025

Conference reviews Rome Statute, calls for unity against crimes of aggression
Diplomats and legal experts reviewed the Rome Statute and advocated for greater international support for the International Criminal Court, particularly in addressing crimes of aggression at the event, Conference on the Review of the ICC's Rome Statute, held in Seoul on Thursday.
A conference hosted by the embassies of Germany, Estonia and Poland at the Goethe-Institut Seoul drew over 100 participants, including diplomats, students and legal professionals.
In his keynote remarks, German Ambassador to Korea Georg Schmidt underscored the urgent relevance of revisiting the Rome Statute amid rising global conflicts.
'It should be relevant to any person in the world who reads the news and is concerned about what's happening around us,' said Schmidt. 'If I look at Europe, we have a Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, including the intention to annex another country's territory.'
Reflecting on history, Schmidt drew parallels to the 1991 Gulf War, warning of a dangerous regression to power-driven international relations.
'I wish we had a stronger global response,' he said. 'One of the fundamental principles is that we do not accept territorial changes by force.'
Schmidt also emphasized the emotional debates around the ICC, particularly in Africa, noting that the Court still represents a 'signal of hope' for the vulnerable.
'Just the very idea that someone is watching, that perhaps things will eventually change, gives hope. I think that's a very powerful message,' he said.
He commended Korea's dedication to international law, underscoring the influential roles of Judge Park Hee-kwon at the International Criminal Court and Paik Jin-hyun, former judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. Their contributions, he noted, 'further underscore Korea's steadfast commitment to a rules-based international order.'
But Schmidt raised concerns that international institutions like the ICC, WHO and WTO are under threat.
'There seems to be a real attempt to undermine the rules-based international order as we know it,' he cautioned.
'We risk becoming pawns in the strategic games of global powers.'
Ahead of the Review Conference of the Rome Statute in New York this July, Schmidt urged participants to see it as an opportunity.
'We must send a strong signal to the international community that we reject the law of the strongest and support a rules-based order where protection is offered through law, not just through force.'
'In my 30 years as a diplomat, I've felt that yes, there is a hunger for food — but across so many cultures, there is an equal hunger for justice,' Schmidt said.
'That hunger for justice must not go unanswered,' he urged, concluding his remarks.
Estonian Ambassador Sten Schwede echoed Schmidt's concerns and reaffirmed Estonia's early adoption of the Kampala Amendments, which define the crime of aggression.
'We regret the significant jurisdictional restrictions introduced,' said Schwede. 'The ICC cannot exercise jurisdiction over aggression by states not party to the Rome Statute. We've seen the consequences of that in the war against Ukraine.'
'There is a strong need to remove these limitations to empower the ICC. Estonia believes this is a global issue, and we urge all stakeholders to support the review process,' he added.
Polish Charge d'affaires Artur Gradzluk also lent his support for stronger ICC authority.
'One of the greatest challenges is the enforcement of international law and the prevention of impunity,' he said, citing Poland's own history and geography as motivation for supporting legal accountability.
Gradzluk called for unifying the jurisdictional regime for all four core international crimes— war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity and aggression — while urging caution not to undermine past progress.
'We must approach the principle of a unified jurisdiction carefully to avoid creating new divisions among state parties,' he said.
The event was part of a series of regional meetings aimed at galvanizing international consensus ahead of July's crucial Rome Statute Review Conference, held with hopes to push the issue onto political agendas — not just in Korea but across Asia and beyond.