Today at 15:18
Ukraine has ratified the Rome Statute, with 281 deputies of the Verkhovna Rada voting in favor.
The day before, the parliamentary committee on foreign policy had endorsed the draft law on ratifying the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The Rome Statute is an international treaty that laid the foundation for the ICC, defining the crimes within its jurisdiction: war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and crimes of aggression.
Ukraine’s ratification of the Rome Statute fulfills a commitment made in its Association Agreement with the European Union (Article 8) and is also a key step towards EU membership.
By ratifying the statute, Ukraine has become a full member of the ICC, which will enhance access for Ukrainians to the ICC’s special Trust Fund for victims, increasing the likelihood of compensation for those affected by Russian crimes. This ratification also strengthens protections for Ukrainian military personnel. It’s important to note that ratification does not introduce new risks for the Ukrainian military or citizens, as the ICC already has jurisdiction in Ukraine since the country recognized its authority on November 21, 2013.
Furthermore, Ukraine will now be able to better defend its interests at the ICC, including participating in the Assembly of States Parties, nominating a candidate for the position of judge, and taking part in the selection of judges and the Court’s prosecutor.
Ukraine had planned to ratify the statute with a provision that the ICC would not have jurisdiction over war crimes under Article 8 committed by Ukrainian citizens for seven years following ratification.
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