ANC in Parliament welcomes Cabinet decision to withdraw from ICC

21 October 2016

The Office of the ANC Chief Whip welcomes the decision by the Executive to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). 

It is our long held view that the ICC has long diverted from its mandate of being an independent and objective instrument in bringing an end to heinous crimes against humanity and the violation of human rights on the African Continent. Instead the ICC has allowed non-member states to dictate and interfere with its work to suit their own imperialist agendas. 

The ANC reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights on the continent of Africa and beyond. We are steadfast in our belief that those who have committed crimes against humanity must be prosecuted and punished by an impartial body empowered by international cooperation to defend the universal values of justice. 

We therefore reiterate our call on the African Union to strengthen its own institutions designed to promote human rights and protect the people of Africa against crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression where they cannot find justice in their own countries.

As the ANC in Parliament, we will be ready to carry out our legislative function as part of the parliamentary process of repealing the Implementation of the Rome Statute once it has been introduced to parliament by Cabinet. 

Issued by Moloto Mothapo on behalf of the Office of the ANC Chief Whip, 21 October 2016