President Nicolás Maduro commented that the installation of an office of the ICC Prosecutor’s Office in the country is a “favorable step”, and expressed that there is already an auspicious experience, such as the agreements reached with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the installation of an office in 2019
The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (CPI), Karim Khan, and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro signed this Friday, June 9, a new memorandum of understanding establishing the installation of the office of the international court in the country.
In his statement, prosecutor Khan commented that there have been two days of intense meetings, even at dawn, during his third visit to the country and he was even able to see the place where the representation of his office in the country will be installed.
“We will be able to come to Venezuela more often and work more closely (…) so that Venezuela can do more with respect to its obligations under the Rome Statute,” Khan said. The signed agreement details the technical assistance and help that the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court will provide based on the reforms that the Venezuelan government has stated that it wants to implement.
Despite disagreements over the investigation, prosecutor Khan credits Venezuela that an agreement to this effect is still in place. He said he hoped that the cooperation with the Venezuelan government would be maintained over time.
In addition, he said that he will work with social actors and members of civil society on human rights issues, especially for the crime of persecution. She thanked the reception for the third time and highlighted the meetings with Nicolás Maduro, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, the president of the Supreme Court of Justice and representatives of the Public Ministry.
#Live ? | Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Courthttps://t.co/CFr3vEx3KU
– Presidential Press (@PresidencialVen) June 9, 2023
The first memorandum of understanding between the ICC Prosecutor’s Office and the Venezuelan government was signed in November 2021after the announcement of the initiation of the investigation into possible crimes against humanity committed in Venezuelan territory since at least 2017.
That document contemplated the help of the Criminal Court Prosecutor to adapt the Venezuelan justice system to international standards under the principle of complementarity, in addition to “arranging means and mechanisms that contribute effectively to Venezuela’s efforts to carry out authentic national actions.” in accordance with the Rome Statute”.
It also planned the installation of an office of the ICC Prosecutor’s Office in the country, which is materialized in this new visit, and already has an approved budget of 1,550,800 euros by the Assembly of States that are part of the ICC.
For his part, President Nicolás Maduro commented that the installation of an office of the ICC Prosecutor’s Office in the country is a “favorable step”, and expressed that there is already an auspicious experience, such as the agreements reached with the Office of the High United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights and the installation of an office in 2019.
“Based on that experience, we could be optimistic today, and we can say that this office will have a favorable impact on the reform processes of the justice system in Venezuela,” Maduro said.
He stressed that this cooperation will allow the training of professionals and actors in the field of human rights and the commitments to be fulfilled based on the Rome Statute, in addition to bringing the experience of the ICC Prosecutor’s Office closer to the Venezuelan justice system “for the development and construction of a rule of law, justice and democracy, of a State that fully guarantees the enjoyment of human rights”.
Post Views: 808
