Intervention by the Permanent Mission of Brazil to the United Nations
November 9
Mr. Chairman,
I deliver this statement on behalf of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay and my own country, Brazil.
The International Criminal Court is the first permanent tribunal set out to put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern of the international community as a whole. Indeed, it is an important achievement of the international community towards a rules-based world order.
As an instrument for ensuring that those accused before it, in accordance with the principle of complementarity, are judged with fairness and full respect for their rights, the ICC is a vehicle for justice and peace.
With regards to torture, the Rome Statute establishes that this abhorrent act can constitute both a crime against humanity and a war crime, pursuant to its articles 7 and 8, respectively. Torture, therefore, clearly falls under the jurisdiction of the ICC.
In light of these considerations, our countries understand that the language of PP7 and OP4 of the resolution relating to the ICC, is not only factually correct, but also thematically relevant, meriting, thus, to be kept in its integrity as part of the agreed text, as it has been the case for several years now.
For these reasons, our countries will vote against the amendments proposed for PP7 and OP4 of this resolution, and encourage other delegations to do the same.
I thank you.
