Canada has expressed its concern following the decision that was taken by South Africa to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) last week.
The Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement said that Canada was deeply troubled following the notice.
“Canada is deeply troubled by South Africa’s announcement that it has submitted a notice of withdrawal from the International Criminal Court to the United Nations Secretary-General,” said Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement:.
Diaom added that South Africa played an important role in the development of the court and in that perspective Canada recognize its past efforts to end impunity for the most serious international crimes.
The Foreign affairs minister further payed tribute to its South Africa Commintment in ICC praising the world of the Freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela in 1998, when South Africa joined the court:
“Our own continent has suffered enough horrors emanating from the inhumanity of human beings towards human beings. Who knows, many of these might not have occurred, or at least been minimized, had there been an effectively functioning International Criminal Court,” late president Mandela words in 1998.
The minister noted that all victims, including African victims, have a right to justice..
“The ongoing contributions of African states in support of the court are invaluable to make this justice a reality,” he added. The minister further urged the country to recionsider its decision and trash the move to withdraw from ICC.
“That steadfast support is more important than ever today; we urge South Africa to reconsider. The International Criminal Court cannot be abandoned because it may not be perfect. Our answer must rather be to improve and strengthen it,” Dion pleaded.
“We must not forget the thousands of children, women and men who have been victims of unimaginable atrocities and for whom the International Criminal Court, as a court of last resort, offers the only hope of justice.”