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Updates on Costa Rica

31 Dec 2005

In May 2003, the National Assembly approved an Act which incorporates crimes defined in the Rome Statute into national law (Law 8272). It covers every crime in the Rome Statute, however, does not address cooperation with the Court.

On 30 January 2001, the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica voted on the ratification of the Rome Statute. The ICC ratification bill was approved by the Congress on 13 February 2001. The text of the law incorporating the Rome Statute as part of national law was published in the official gazette on March 20th. In accordance with the Constitution, an interpretative declaration regarding immunities was to be attached with the ratification.

Previously, on 26 September 2000, the ICC ratification bill was approved by the plenary of the Parliament for a first reading. The issue was submitted for a constitutional review to the Sala Cuarta (Constitutional Court), which had 30 days to render an opinion on the compatibility of the bill with the Costa Rican Constitution. The Constitutional Court found that the ICC Statute does not conflict with the Constitution.

The Foreign Relations Commission of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica then voted unanimously on 7 March 2000 to approve ratification of the ICC Statute. The Commission attached an interpretive declaration regarding immunities.