Latest news with #KampalaAmendments
IOL News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Justice Minister Kubayi heads to Ghana for crucial International Criminal Court retreat on Kampala Amendments
Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi travels to Accra for a key ICC retreat, advancing Africa's unified stance on the Kampala Amendments and strengthening international justice cooperation. Image: File Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, is travelling to Accra, Ghana, on Monday to participate in a high-level retreat on the Kampala Amendments and International Criminal Justice from May 19 to 21, 2025. The retreat will bring together Ministers of Justice and senior officials from all 33 African States Parties to the International Criminal Court (ICC), as well as representatives from the ICC Presidency, the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), the ICC Trust Fund for Victims, African Union officials, and international legal experts. These amendments define the Crime of Aggression and establish the conditions under which the ICC can exercise jurisdiction over it, said Terrence Manase, spokesperson to the Minister. According to Manase, an act of aggression includes using armed force by one state against another in violation of the United Nations (UN) Charter, such as invasion, military occupation, annexation by force, bombardment, or blockade. 'The Ministry welcomes this opportunity for meaningful engagement and continental collaboration as African States continue to shape a credible and effective international criminal justice system.' 'Minister Kubayi's participation highlights the country's support for multilateralism, the fight against impunity, and the advancement of an inclusive and balanced global justice system,'' he said. The retreat builds on a successful pilot meeting held in Johannesburg in October 2024, which raised awareness and fostered a sense of ownership among African States Parties in advocating for a fair and legitimate crime of aggression regime. 'The Johannesburg retreat was a turning point. It laid the foundation for Africa to speak with one voice on the issue of aggression and the future of international justice,' said Manase. 'This next phase in Accra is about consolidating that progress and finalising a unified African position.' Manase noted that the Kampala Amendments on the Crime of Aggression are a set of legal changes adopted in 2010 at the Review Conference of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), held in Kampala, Uganda. The retreat, organised in partnership with the Ministries of Justice of Ghana, Sierra Leone, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, will further deliberate on an amendment proposal submitted by the Group of Friends (GoF), a coalition of supportive states. 'The Minister views this as an essential step in strengthening the global justice system from an African perspective,' Manase said. Manase said the goal is to finalise a unified African position on the Kampala Amendments ahead of discussions at the Assembly of States Parties. [email protected] Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. IOL Politics
IOL News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Justice Minister Kubayi heads to Ghana for crucial International Criminal Court retreat on Kampala Amendments
Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi travels to Accra for a key ICC retreat, advancing Africa's unified stance on the Kampala Amendments and strengthening international justice cooperation. Image: File Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, is travelling to Accra, Ghana, on Monday to participate in a high-level retreat on the Kampala Amendments and International Criminal Justice from May 19 to 21, 2025. The retreat will bring together Ministers of Justice and senior officials from all 33 African States Parties to the International Criminal Court (ICC), as well as representatives from the ICC Presidency, the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), the ICC Trust Fund for Victims, African Union officials, and international legal experts. These amendments define the Crime of Aggression and establish the conditions under which the ICC can exercise jurisdiction over it, said Terrence Manase, spokesperson to the Minister. According to Manase, an act of aggression includes using armed force by one state against another in violation of the United Nations (UN) Charter, such as invasion, military occupation, annexation by force, bombardment, or blockade. 'The Ministry welcomes this opportunity for meaningful engagement and continental collaboration as African States continue to shape a credible and effective international criminal justice system.' 'Minister Kubayi's participation highlights the country's support for multilateralism, the fight against impunity, and the advancement of an inclusive and balanced global justice system,'' he said. The retreat builds on a successful pilot meeting held in Johannesburg in October 2024, which raised awareness and fostered a sense of ownership among African States Parties in advocating for a fair and legitimate crime of aggression regime. 'The Johannesburg retreat was a turning point. It laid the foundation for Africa to speak with one voice on the issue of aggression and the future of international justice,' said Manase. 'This next phase in Accra is about consolidating that progress and finalising a unified African position.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Manase noted that the Kampala Amendments on the Crime of Aggression are a set of legal changes adopted in 2010 at the Review Conference of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), held in Kampala, Uganda. The retreat, organised in partnership with the Ministries of Justice of Ghana, Sierra Leone, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, will further deliberate on an amendment proposal submitted by the Group of Friends (GoF), a coalition of supportive states. 'The Minister views this as an essential step in strengthening the global justice system from an African perspective,' Manase said. Manase said the goal is to finalise a unified African position on the Kampala Amendments ahead of discussions at the Assembly of States Parties. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. IOL Politics
The South African
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Justice minister travels to Ghana for tips on combating crime
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mamoloko Kubayi, is today 19 May 2025, travelling to the Republic of Ghana. She will be one of the participants in a high-level retreat on the Kampala Amendments and International Criminal Justice. 'The Kampala Amendments on the Crime of Aggression are a set of legal changes adopted in 2010 at the Review Conference of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), held in Kampala, Uganda', said Justice spokesperson, Terrence Manase. Manase said the three-day retreat is scheduled to take place from 19 to 21 May 2025. Minister Kubayi's participation will highlight South Africa's support for multilateralism. 'It will also address the fight against impunity and the advancement of an inclusive and balanced global justice system', said Manase. According to the Justice Ministry, the retreat will bring together Justice Ministers and senior officials from 33 African State Parties to the International Criminal Court. They will be among representatives from the ICC Presidency and the Assembly of States Parties. Also joining the retreat is the ICC Trust Fund for Victims, senior African Union officials and international legal experts. 'The event follows the successful pilot retreat in Johannesburg in October of 2024 which raised awareness and fostered a sense of ownership among African States Parties to advocate for a crime of aggression regime that is both fair and legitimate', said Manase. According to him, the Joburg gathering also initiated the process of an amendment proposal being submitted by African States. He said it also laid the groundwork for an Africa-led amendment proposal. Additionally, Manase said it reaffirmed the Africa's commitment to a fair and legitimate international criminal justice framework. The re-treat is organised in partnership with the Justice Ministries from Ghana, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Manase said the Accra retreat will continue building from the outcomes of the Johannesburg gathering. He anticipated that it would serve as a platform to further deliberate on the amendment proposal submitted by the Group of Friends. The amendments define the Crime of Aggression and establish the conditions under which the ICC can exercise jurisdiction over it. 'An act of aggression includes using armed force by one state against another in violation of the United Nations (UN) Charter, such as, invasion, military occupation, annexation by force, bombardment, or blockade', said Manase. He concluded that the goal is to finalise a unified African position on the Kampala Amendments. The Justice Ministry is planning to achieve this ahead of discussions at the Assembly of States Parties. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Saudi Gazette
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
EU hails 'major' progress on plan to set up special tribunal to judge Vladimir Putin
BRUSSELS — A coalition of 38 countries, including all members of the European Union, announced on Tuesday "major progress" in their joint work to establish a special tribunal to judge the Russian leadership for the crime of aggression committed against work among experts and lawyers has so far centred on drafting the legal statute that will underpin the tribunal and determine its jurisdiction. The statute is not yet final but the coalition hopes it could be endorsed before the end of the of the text have not been made public."So we're at a point where very substantial progress has been made," said Michael McGrath, the European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law."At this stage, we do not envisage any insurmountable obstacles."The tribunal will prosecute Russia's political and military leaders, including President Vladimir Putin, and be established within the framework of the Council of Europe, a human rights organisation. Its Secretary General, Alain Berset, said the institution would be "ready to act" once the mandate is green-lighted at the political level."To wait is not an option. We must really act as fast as possible. And we will do the best way to try to finish the work this year," Berset said, speaking next to McCrath."We must be very ambitious. And I think if there's a will. There is also the possibility to work to achieve this."The idea of setting up a tribunal for the crime of aggression has been ardently championed by President Volodymyr Zelensky to ensure accountability for the full-scale invasion, which Putin ordered the launch of almost three years war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, which are applied to the individuals who commit the atrocities, such as military officers and mercenaries, the crime of aggression is a leadership crime that targets the person ultimately in charge of controlling the aggressor aggression can consist of an invasion, an occupation, an annexation, a blockade of ports or any other assault that involves the use of weapons by a state against to the International Criminal Court (ICC), the crime of aggression relates to "the planning, preparation, initiation or execution, by a person in a position effectively to exercise control over or to direct the political or military action of a State, of an act of aggression which, by its character, gravity and scale, constitutes a manifest violation of the Charter of the United Nations."This makes Putin the likeliest defendant in a future trial. That possibility, however, remains an abstract aspiration at best: heads of state enjoy immunity from prosecution under international law and a trial in absentia risks being seen as the ICC established jurisdiction over crimes of aggression under the so-called Kampala Amendments, this only applies to countries and nationals from countries that are party to the Rome Statute. Russia, like the US and China, is not a is why Kyiv and Brussels have explored the option of creating an ad-hoc tribunal that would be empowered to prosecute the specific case of Russia's war on Ukraine."Without the crime of aggression, there wouldn't be any war crimes either," said High Representative Kaja Kallas, who also spoke at Tuesday's press conference."Therefore, it's extremely important that there is also accountability for the crime of aggression. No one from Russia and no one from Russia's leadership is untouchable.""It is also very important to send a signal that unpunished crimes only encourage further aggression," she noted the special tribunal should be established "before the war is over."Iryna Mudra, the deputy head of Zelensky's office, who also took part in the press conference, hailed the progress on the legal statute as a "major breakthrough" and said no other national should be a "victim of another imperial conquest." The last time this kind of crime was brought to justice was during the Nuremberg trials held after World War II when the charges were known as "crimes against peace." — Euronews
Euronews
04-02-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
EU hails 'major' progress on plan to set up special tribunal to judge Vladimir Putin
A coalition of 38 countries, including all members of the European Union, announced on Tuesday "major progress" in their joint work to establish a special tribunal to judge the Russian leadership for the crime of aggression committed against Ukraine. The work among experts and lawyers has so far centred on drafting the legal statute that will underpin the tribunal and determine its jurisdiction. The statute is not yet final but the coalition hopes it could be endorsed before the end of the year. Details of the statute have not been made public. "So we're at a point where very substantial progress has been made," said Michael McGrath, the European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law. "At this stage, we do not envisage any insurmountable obstacles." The tribunal will prosecute Russia's political and military leaders, including President Vladimir Putin, and be established within the framework of the Council of Europe, a human rights organisation. Its Secretary General, Alain Berset, said the institution would be "ready to act" once the mandate is green-lighted at the political level. "To wait is not an option. We must really act as fast as possible. And we will do the best way to try to finish the work this year," Berset said, speaking next to McCrath. "We must be very ambitious. And I think if there's a will. There is also the possibility to work to achieve this." The idea of setting up a tribunal for the crime of aggression has been ardently championed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to ensure accountability for the full-scale invasion, which Putin ordered the launch of almost three years ago. Unlike war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, which are applied to the individuals who commit the atrocities, such as military officers and mercenaries, the crime of aggression is a leadership crime that targets the person ultimately in charge of controlling the aggressor state. The aggression can consist of an invasion, an occupation, an annexation, a blockade of ports or any other assault that involves the use of weapons by a state against another. According to the International Criminal Court (ICC), the crime of aggression relates to "the planning, preparation, initiation or execution, by a person in a position effectively to exercise control over or to direct the political or military action of a State, of an act of aggression which, by its character, gravity and scale, constitutes a manifest violation of the Charter of the United Nations." This makes Putin the likeliest defendant in a future trial. That possibility, however, remains an abstract aspiration at best: heads of state enjoy immunity from prosecution under international law and a trial in absentia risks being seen as illegitimate. Although the ICC established jurisdiction over crimes of aggression under the so-called Kampala Amendments, this only applies to countries and nationals from countries that are party to the Rome Statute. Russia, like the US and China, is not a signatory. This is why Kyiv and Brussels have explored the option of creating an ad-hoc tribunal that would be empowered to prosecute the specific case of Russia's war on Ukraine. "Without the crime of aggression, there wouldn't be any war crimes either," said High Representative Kaja Kallas, who also spoke at Tuesday's press conference. "Therefore, it's extremely important that there is also accountability for the crime of aggression. No one from Russia and no one from Russia's leadership is untouchable." "It is also very important to send a signal that unpunished crimes only encourage further aggression," she added. Kallas noted the special tribunal should be established "before the war is over." Iryna Mudra, the deputy head of Zelenskyy's office, who also took part in the press conference, hailed the progress on the legal statute as a "major breakthrough" and said no other national should be a "victim of another imperial conquest." The last time this kind of crime was brought to justice was during the Nuremberg trials held after World War II when the charges were known as "crimes against peace."
