URC- Cameroon
The Coalition for the International Criminal Court and its members are calling on the Cameroon to take the necessary steps to move forward and ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Increased ratifications of the Statute in the sub-region will help strengthen the African 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 30 States in Africa have already become States Parties to the Treaty, and15 others – including Cameroon on 17 July 1998, have signed the Rome Treaty but have yet to complete the process of ratification.
Additional Cameroon as a new Party to the Court would consolidate the region as fully committed to this historic institution- the first permanent, independent court capable of investigating and bringing to justice individuals who commit the most serious violations of international humanitarian law, namely war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
Take Action Now!
Write a letter to the Foreign Minister of Cameroon 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.
Send your letter to:
H.E. Chief Ephraim Inoni,
Prime Minister
Fax: +237 223 57 35
H.E. Jean-Marie Atangana Mebara
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Yaoundé
Fax: +237-220-1133 and +237-220-7918
H.E. S.E. Monsieur Amadou ALI
Minister of Justice
Fax: +237-223- 00 05
Your Excellency:
At a time when the International Criminal Court (ICC) is moving forward in its crucial work to end impunity for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes with its first three cases in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan, I am writing to urge you to ensure that Cameroon supports this new and vital system of international justice by acceding to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court as soon as possible.
Commendably, Cameroon one of the very first countries to sign the Rome Statute of the ICC on the day the treaty was finalized, 17 July 1998. The Rome Statute came into force in July 2002 and now has the support of more than half of the world’s nations. With the Cook Island’s ratification in July, 108 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 violations of human rights will no longer go unpunished.
I welcome the Cameroonian ratification of UN conventions on corruption and on human trafficking, the establishment of the Cameroonian Coalition for the ICC, and the preparations of an ICC ratification proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I hope these recent steps may indicate that your country is also ready to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely,
English
