The Arab Coalition for the International Criminal Court appeals to the Arab States signed the Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court, which will meet at the Arab summit, Qatar, from 30-31 March 2009, to respect its international obligations resulting from these signatures.
The Coalition notes that, although it is true, that the signatories of the International Criminal Court – which has not yet ratified or acceded – do not take their legal obligations effectively, however, that the signature indicates the intention of these countries to take steps to express their consent to be bound by the treaty at a later date.
The signing of the Convention creates an obligation for the signatory States in the period between signature and ratification, acceptance or approval, and in good faith to refrain from acts of behavior that would disrupt the subject and purpose of the treaty, in accordance with article 18 of the Treaty of Vienna of 1996, which provides for that “A State is obliged to refrain from acts, which would defeat the object and purpose of a treaty when:(a) it has signed the treaty or has exchanged instruments constituting the treaty subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, until it shall have made its intention clear not to become a party to the treaty; or (b) it has expressed its consent to be bound by the treaty, pending the entry into force of the treaty and provided that such entry into force is not unduly delayed”
It should be noted that the rule text of this article applies to the Arab States signed the Rome Statute establishing the court and these are:
(Egypt) signed in December 26th 2000, (Algeria) signed in December 28th 2000, (Morocco) signed in September 8th 2000, (Sudan) signed in September 8th 2000, (Syria) signed in November 29th 2000, (Kuwait) signed in September 8th 2000, (the United Arab Emirates) signed November 27th 2000, (Bahrain) signed in December 11th 2000, (Oman) signed in December 20th 2000 and (Yemen) signed in December 28th 2000, in addition to Jordan, Djibouti and Comoros who are of Arab States that ratified the International Criminal Court.
This signature of the International Criminal Court is an international obligation entails the responsibility of the signed Arab countries, not to commit war crimes or crimes against humanity or genocide, and to criminalize such offenses under their national legislations, as required by the principle of good faith.
