Coalition for the International Criminal Court
Follow Us: Facebook Twitter
CICCCourtCoalitionCoalitionDocumentsPressDonation
Browse by Region
map Americas Africa Asia and Pacific Europe Middle East and North Africa
URC – TURKEY
The Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC) calls on Turkey to take the necessary steps to accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Increased ratifications of the Statute will further strengthen the global voice at the Court and result in a more robust and meaningful participation in the global struggle to establish a truly fair, effective and independent ICC.

To date, 42 states in Europe and the Central Asian Republics are parties to the Rome Statute, 27 of which are European Union (EU) members. The region also includes six signatories to the Rome Statute that have yet to complete the process of ratification (Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, the Principality of Monaco, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Uzbekistan).

European states have been frontrunners in the establishment of the ICC and their continuing support is critical to ensuring that the ICC remains a fair and effective Court. As a new state party, Turkey would further encourage the region's commitment to the new system of international justice. The Coalition therefore appeals to Turkey to ratify the Rome Statute and to fully support this first permanent, independent court capable of investigating and bringing to justice perpetrators of the most serious violations of international law, namely war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

Take action now!

Write a letter to the President and Prime Minister of Turkey to encourage them to accede to the Rome Statute of the ICC.

You might like to use the letter below as a guide. Please be sure to cc all contacts and also send a copy to us at [email protected]

Send your letter to:

H.E. Mr. Abdullah Gül
President
Cumhurbaskanligi Cankaya Kosku,
06550 Cankaya ANKARA-TURKEY
Phone: +90 312 470 11 00/+90 312 470 23 08
Fax: +90 312 470 13 16
Email: [email protected]

H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Prime Minister
Basbakanlik Merkez Bina
06640 Kizilay ANKARA-TURKEY
Phone: +90 312 413 70 00
Fax: +90 312 417 04 76
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

H.E. Dr. Ahmet Davutoğlu
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Dr. Sad?k Ahmet Cad. No: 8 Balgat 06100 ANKARA-TURKEY
Phone: +90 312 292 10 00
Fax: +90 312 292 27 55
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

H.E. Mr. Sadullah Ergin
Minister of Justice
Adalet Bakanligi 06659 Kizilay ANKARA-TURKEY
Phone: +90 312 419 33 70
Fax: +90 312 419 33 70/ +90 312 417 71 13
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

H.E. Mr. Ertuğrul Apakan
Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN
Permanent Mission of Turkey to the United Nations
821 United Nations Plaza, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10017 USA
Phone: + 1 212 949-0150
Fax: +1 212 949-0086
Email: [email protected]

H.E. Mr. Nazif Murat Ersavcı
Ambassador to Belgium
Embassy of Turkey to Belgium
4, Rue Montoyer
1000 Bruxelles, Belgique
Phone: +32 2 5134095
Fax: +32 2 5140748
E-mail: t[email protected]

H.E. Mr. Selim Kuneralp
Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the European Union
Permanent Representation of Turkey to the EU
4 Rue Montoyer
1000 Bruxelles Belgique
Phone: +32 2 289 62 40
Fax: +32 2 511 04 50
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

Your Excellency:

I am writing to urge you to ensure Turkey's accession to the Rome Statute of the ICC as soon as possible. The Court's investigations in Uganda, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Darfur (Sudan), and Kenya signify that it is moving forward in its crucial work to end impunity for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Turkey's support for this new and vital system of international justice through accession of the Rome Statute is therefore of utmost importance.

As you well know, the Rome Statute came into force in July 2002 and now has the support of more than half of the world's nations. As of January 2011, 114 states have ratified or acceded to the treaty, while 139 are signatories. This system of international justice, with the International Criminal Court as a cornerstone, is an important mechanism in ensuring that the most serious violations of human rights no longer go unpunished. European nations have been instrumental in building and strengthening this new justice system, and their support for the ICC is vital to its success and effectiveness. With the added benefit of Turkey's strategic geographic position bridging Europe and the Middle East, Turkey is a key international player that could significantly contribute to strengthening the Court.

I welcome the Prime Minister's statement before the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in October 2004 indicating that "Turkey will soon approve the Rome Statute after completing its internal preparations and will become part of the International Court Convention." Turkey has also made a positive step forward by joining the Friends of the ICC, a like-minded group of countries actively promoting the International Criminal Court and the new international criminal legal system arising from the Rome Statute's entry into force, and by participating in several sessions of the Assembly of States Parties and the first Review Conference of the Rome Statute, held in Kampala, Uganda, from 31 May to 11 June 2010.

I would also like to welcome Turkey's August 2008 approval of the Third National Program for the Adoption of the EU Acquis, a document that includes - among others - a reference to the ICC and the fact that the necessary work is continuing for Turkey to become a party to the Court. However, for two years, Turkey's progress has remained at a standstill.

Excellency, I therefore urge Turkey to act upon its commitments by acceding to the Rome Statute without delay as a demonstration of its commitment to fight impunity, and by doing so, express its ongoing support for justice and human rights.

Sincerely,
NGO Media Statements
Author Date and Title
CICC
Mar 2011
Global Coalition Calls on Turkey to Join the ICC