STATEMENT BY

H.E. AMBASSADOR DUMISANI S. KUMALO

PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF

SOUTH AFRICA

TO THE UNITED NATIONS

PREPARATORY COMMISSION

ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

New York, 27 November 2000

SPEECH BY AMBASSADOR DUMISANI KHUMALO TO THE UNITED NATIONS PREPARATORY COMMISSION ON THE ESTABLISHMENT 0F AN INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

Mr. Chairman,

This delegation is pleased to be the first to welcome you and the entire Bureau back to the helm of our meetings.

The process to establish an International Criminal Court has under your guidance enjoyed much success, first with the adoption of the International Criminal Court Statute in Rome, 1998 and recently with the unanimous adoption of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence and the document and the Elements of Crime. This success also reflects the commitment of many States to the establishment of the International Criminal Court

Never before has the international community displayed So much resolve to the end impunity for international crimes.

Signature to the Statute of the International Criminal Court has reached universal proportions and the wave of ratification is just halfway to the sixtieth ratification necessary to bring the Statute into force. This is evidence of the international community s belief that the International Criminal Court shall be an instrument of justice for victims of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and aggression everywhere in the world.

This is a belief, which South Africa shares.

As victims of the crime of apartheid we experienced the pain and despair suffered by victims of crimes against humanity when they are without a forum from which to seek justice. It is for that reason that we have resolved not to be party to the delay in establishing the Court any longer and invite other states to make the same decision and act upon it by ratifying the International Criminal Court Statute.

As evidence of South Africa s resolve to end impunity for international crimes and contribute to the establishment of an institution for international justice, we are pleased to announce that South Africa, this morning, ratified the Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Thank you