Day 3 of the International Criminal Court Assembly of States Parties (ASP) was a day of transition from the judicial elections, which dominated the previous two days, into the General Debate.

ICC ASP16, photo credit: ICC

The day began with the election of Mr. Rosario Salvatore Aitala (Italy) as the sixth and final ICC judge elected at this ASP session. As well, an election was held to fill the four seats allocated to the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States (GRULAC) on the ASP Bureau. Bureau members are usually elected by acclamation after consensus is reached within the regional groups, but GRULAC could not reach consensus. Thus, voting took place today, electing Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico, and Colombia to 3 year terms on the Bureau.

The General Debate also began today, during which states presented their positions on various ICC-related issues. Of note was South Africa’s statement affirming its intention to withdraw from the ICC and announcing that it would repeal its Rome Statute implementing legislation. This statement stood in contrast to Gambia’s indication that it planned to stay within the ICC due to the current government’s staunch support for international justice.

There were many side-events held today at the ASP, including one on the ICC Prosecutor’s work on the Libya situation. This side event is described in detail in an IntLawGrrls post today by Nicole Tuczynski. Nicole is an LL.M (Common Law) candidate at the University of Ottawa in Canada. Additionally, she also enjoys working in the field of politics on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, a position she has held for the past two years and in which she continues to stay active. Her research interests predominately revolve around the intersection of law and politics, International Criminal Law and Canadian Health Law and Policy. Her specific research focus is currently on the ICC and one of the specific aims of the institution – to put an end to impunity for perpetrators who have committed genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Given this, she is intrigued by the rules outlined in Rome Statute, and, further, how those rules get defined and/or determined in practice. Nicole also holds a M.A. in Political Science, including a designation from the Collaborative Graduate Program in Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Reconstruction, and a B.A. Honours Specialization Degree in Political Science, all from Western University. Her previous Master’s Major Research Paper also focused on international justice by way of studying the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and assessing its mandate.

Heartfelt welcome, Nicole, to IntLawGrrls’ ICC Assembly of States Parties symposium!