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Updates on Ivory Coast

31 Dec 2005

In February 2005, the government renewed its commitment to prompt ratification of the Rome Statute. At a roundtable meeting convened by the local branch of Amnesty International, the Ivory Coast’s Human Rights Minister Victorine Wodie expressed satisfaction at the establishment of the ICC which she described as "the solution to the impunity which the international community has been witnessing for quite sometime." While unable to give a date for the ratification, Ms. Wodie confirmed the approval by her country "of the ICC`s jurisdiction over crimes committed on its territory since 19 September 2002 events."

As of October 2003, the National Assembly had scheduled a discussion on ratification of the Rome Statute during its current session. The ratification bill has been pending adoption.

Previously, the President of the National Assembly, who would decide whether to convene a special session, had reportedly asked supportive members of Parliament to brief opposition parties on the issue in order to gain consensus on the text.

The Council of Ministers adopted a bill on 9 May 2001, authorizing the President to ratify the Rome Statute.

Previously, a representative of the government indicated that Cote d'Ivoire intended to wait for a clear definition of aggression before ratifying.