Madagascar ratifies statute establishing International Criminal Court

17 March 2008 – Madagascar has become the latest country to ratify the Rome Statute that sets up the International Criminal Court (ICC), the independent, permanent court that tries people accused of the most serious crimes, such as genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The Malagasy Government deposited its instrument of ratification to the statute on Friday, according to a news release issued by the ICC in The Hague, the Dutch city where it is based.

When the statute enters into force for Madagascar on 1 June, the island nation will be the 106th country to become a State Party to the ICC – almost 10 years after the Rome Statute was adopted in July 1998, leading to the court’s founding.

Late last year Judge Philippe Kirsch, the ICC President, called for those countries that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Rome Statute to do so, saying the court was already having an impact by deterring crimes and improving the chances for sustainable peace in some countries.

News Tracker: past stories on this issue

International Criminal Court heading towards universality, says chief judge