Coalition for the International Criminal Court
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URC - Czech Republic
The Coalition for the International Criminal Court is calling on the Czech Republic to take the necessary steps to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Increased ratifications of the Statute in the region 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, Europe and the Central Asian Republics have 40 States Parties to the Rome Statute, 26 of which are European Union (EU) countries. The region also has 8 signatories to the Rome Statute (Armenia, the Czech Republic, Krygyzstan, the Kingdom of Monaco, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Uzbekistan). The Czech Republic signed the Rome Statute on April 13, 1999 and is the only EU member state that has not yet ratified the Treaty.

European states and the European Union have been frontrunners in the establishment of the International Criminal Court and their constant efforts will continue to be critical to ensure the ICC will remain a fair and effective Court. The Coalition therefore appeals to the Czech Republic to ratify the Rome Statute and to fully support this first permanent, independent court capable of investigating and bringing to justice individuals who commit the most serious violations of international law, namely war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

Take Action Now!
Write a letter to the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic to encourage him to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

You might like to use the following letter as a guide.

Please be sure to cc all contacts below when sending your letters.

Send your letter to:

H.E. Mirek Topolánek
Prime Minister
Nábřeží Edvarda Beneše 4,
118 01, Prague 1
Tel: +420 224 002 284
Fax: +420 257 533 053
Email: [email protected]

H.E. Karel Schwarzenberg
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministerstvo zahraničních věcí
Loretánské náměstí 5
118 00 Praha 1, the Czech Republic
Tel: +224 181 111
Fax: +420 224 182 041
Email: [email protected]

H.E. Jiri Pospisil
Minister of Justice
Nábřeží Edvarda Beneše 4,
118 01, Prague 1
Tel: +420 221 997603
Fax: +420 224 921 657
Email: [email protected]

H.E. Alexandr Vondra
Deputy Premier for European Affairs
Nábřeží Edvarda Beneše 4,
118 01, Prague 1
Tel: +420 224 002 777
Fax: +420 224 002 789
Email: [email protected]

Your Excellency:

I am writing to urge you to ensure the Czech Republic’s ratification of the Rome Statute of the ICC as soon as possible. The Court’s first cases in Uganda, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan signify that it is moving forward in its crucial work to end impunity for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The Czech Republic’s support for this new and vital system of international justice by acceding to the Rome Statute is therefore of utmost importance.

Commendably, the Czech Republic signed the Rome Statute of the ICC on April 13th 1999, soon after the Treaty was finalized on 17th July 1998. 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. With Japan’s accession on 17 July 2007, a historic benchmark of 105 states have now acceded to or ratified the treaty and 139 are signatories. The new system of international justice represented by the International Criminal Court is an important tool that will ensure that the most serious international crimes no longer go unpunished. European nations are instrumental in building and strengthening this new justice system, and their support to the International Criminal Court is vital to its success and efficiency.

I welcome your recent statement indicating that “given the Czech Republic’s forthcoming EU Presidency, the situation is hardly bearable” and that there are no reasons preventing the Czech Republic from joining the Rome Statute of the ICC. Sharing the EU founding principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, the Czech Republic should join the other 26 EU member states in their determination to cooperate for the prevention of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes and to put an end to impunity of perpetrators thereof, by adhering to the new system of international justice created by the Rome Statute.

Yours sincerely,