Resolution on Strengthening Cooperation between the African Union and the International Criminal Court

We, the participants attending the NGO forum on the 39th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights,

Recalling the United Nations Plenipotentiary Conference of 1998 in Rome that led to the establishment of the International Criminal Court,

Noting the various initiatives by the international community in supporting the establishment of an independent international judicial institution,

Mindful of the various advancements on the ratification of the Rome Statute by African governments,

Further noting* that some African governments that have ratified the Rome Statute have not taken steps to domesticate it nationally,

Recalling the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights resolution on the Ratification of the Treaty on the International Criminal Court, 31st October 1998, Resolution on the Ratification of the Statute of the International Criminal Court by OAU member States, Pretoria, 16 May 2002, and Resolution on the Domestication and Implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Banjul, the Gambia, 5th December 2005,

Further noting that 27 African states have ratified the Rome Statute and the efforts made by some of the in giving legal effect to the enforcement of the Rome Statute nationally,

Deeply concerned that the African Union has not taken the necessary steps to sign the relationship agreement with the International Criminal Court,

Considering the fact that the first three situations before the International Criminal Court are from the African continent,

Call on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to:

Urge the African Union to sign the Relationship Agreement with the International Criminal Court,

Further Urge African governments that have ratified the Rome Statute to adopt a national action plan for effective implementation of the Rome Statute,

Call on African States to ratify the agreements on privileges and immunity for the personnel of the International Criminal Court,

Encourage support for the capacity building of Non-Governmental Organisations Community Based Organisations for a more effective monitoring and reporting capacity on human rights violations in Africa,

Done in Banjul, 8th May, 2006