Kampala/ New York/ The Hague
Between 18 and 22 April 2016, Members of the PGA National Group Uganda, under the Leadership of the Chair of the Legal Affairs Committee, Hon. Stephen Tashobya visited the International Criminal Court (ICC) to engage in high-level bilateral meetings with representatives of ICC, Government officials and Dutch MPs. The purpose of this mission was to enhance cooperation with the ICC and show support by African States Parties to the Rome Statute. The Delegation consisted of Hon. Stephen Tashobya (Chair of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee) and Hon. Fox Odoi (MP and Former Legal Advisor to the President), accompanied by Legal Officers of the Ugandan parliament.
During the discussions, the Ugandan legislators reaffirmed their strong support for the ICC and acknowledged its significant role in establishing peace, security and stability in the countries in the African region. The MPs underlined the importance of conducting such meetings between the ICC and legislators to be able to better support the mandate of the Court and its mission on a national level.
In their own words:
Hon. Stephen Tashobya, Chair of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee (Uganda):
“We acknowledge the significant contribution of the ICC intervention in bringing about peace in Northern Uganda. Already in the course of its short existence, the deterrence effect of the ICC proceedings has contributed to the improvement of rule of law and decrease of impunity in various countries, including Sudan and Kenya. We continue to be strong supporters of the Court in its role of a promoter of peace and stability in the African region.”
Hon. Fox Odoi, Member of the Parliament and Former Legal Advisor to the President (Uganda):
"It is of utmost importance that the ICC reaches out to various stakeholders, not only to Government, but also to Parliamentarians who are representatives of people and communities in countries affected by the crimes included in the Rome Statute. For this purpose, the role of organisations such as Parliamentarian for Global Action, is of tremendous significance as it provides the Parliamentarians who represent the voices of victims with an actual opportunity to engage in a direct dialogue with the ICC representatives."
The PGA Delegation discussed the different forms of cooperation with the ICC Presidency, focusing in particular on voluntary agreements on enforcement of sentences, witness protection, interim release, and the relocation of acquitted persons. They further meet with the Head of External Relations and State Cooperation Unit of the ICC Registry to address and clarify lingering concerns regarding the implications of voluntary agreements. In a meeting with the OTP the representatives assured that there is only one pending arrest warrant in Uganda, namely against Kony, and that the ICC should not be used as an excuse by LRA members not to demobilize.
During the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) meeting with NGOs held at the occasion of the 14th Trust Fund for Victims Directors meeting, PGA Member Hon. Tashobya delivered a statement in which he expressed Uganda’s strong support for the mandate of the TFV and the gratitude on behalf of thousands of victims in the Northern Uganda who benefited already from the assistance programmes implemented in the country.
The Chair of PGA National Group in The Netherlands, Mr. Harry van Bommel, MP, shared The Netherlands’ best practise example on the Ratification of the Kampala amendments and encouraged his colleagues to ratify the Kampala Amendments as soon as possible.
