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PGA’s vision is to contribute to the creation of a Rules-Based International Order for a more equitable, safe, sustainable and democratic world.

Honduras and the Rome Statute

PGA has been working with the parliamentarians from Honduras, a State Party of the Rome Statute, to promote the fight against impunity for the most serious crimes of international concern. As of September 2015, PGA’s work focuses on the full implementation of the Rome Statute and the promotion of Honduras cooperation with the ICC as well as the ratification of Kampala Amendments.

Rome Statute

Honduras signed the Rome Statute on 7 October 1998, and ratified it on 1st July 2002, becoming the 76th State Party.

Kampala Amendments of 2010

Honduras has not yet ratified the Amendments to the Rome Statute adopted by the 2010 Review Conference (Kampala Amendments) on the crime of aggression and on the use of certain weapons in non-international armed conflicts. However, under the leadership of PGA member, Dip. Jorge Calix, on 9 October 2014 the Legislative Assembly of Honduras discussed and approved, with 101 votes in favor from 128 total votes, a motion to request the Government to send the bill of ratification of the Kampala Amendments. The motion was sent on the 22 of October and the Parliament is awaiting for the government decision on this regard.

On 6 February, 2015, PGA members Dip. Jorge Calix and Dip. Beatriz Valle met with Mr. Arturo Corrales Alvarez, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Honduras, who expressed his commitment to send soon the Kampala Amendments to the Rome Statute for discussion to the Parliament.

Status on the domestic implementation of the Rome Statute

Although a Bill to amend the Criminal Code, including in relation to the crimes included in the Rome Statute is under revision at the parliament, such a bill has not been approved.

PGA member, Dip. Jorge Calix tabled in September 2015 a bill that contains the national mechanisms of cooperation with the ICC. The Bill was sent to the Constitutional Affairs Committee where is being discussed.

Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the Court (APIC)

On 1 April 2008, Honduras deposited its instrument of accession to the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the ICC.

Additional Agreements

Honduras signed Bilateral Non Surrender Agreement with the USA on September 19, 2002. Approved by the parliament on May 30, 2003 by a vote of 65 to 62.

Progress and PGA Action

After the participation of Dip. Jorge Calix and Dip. Beatriz Valle in the Sub-Regional Working Group on Challenges for the Effectiveness of the Rome Statute system in the Americas in Montevideo, Uruguay 2014 and  the participation  of Dip.Alejandra Mancia Gomez and Dip. Jorge Calix in the Parliamentary Workshop on the Ratification and Implementation of the Rome Statute and the Kampala Amendments in Dominican Republic, in May 2015, PGA provided technical assistance with the PGA Reference Law on Cooperation with the ICC for Latin American Countries.

After adapting such reference law to the national procedures, Dip. Calix tabled the Bill on Cooperation with the ICC that is currently under revision by the Constitutional Affairs Committee.

In April 2014 PGA has been in contact with the Ambassador of Honduras to The Netherlands, Amb. Aguilar, and to Ana Pineda, ex- Ministry of Justice and Human Rights of Honduras to promote the immediate adoption of a Cooperation Law given the fact that Honduras is a country under Preliminary Examinations by the Office of The Prosecutor.

Parliamentary Action

On 9 September 2015, Dip. Jorge Calix tabled a bill to introduce effective national cooperation mechanisms with the ICC.

On 6th February 2015 PGA members Dip. Jorge Calix and Dip. Beatriz Valle met with Mr. Arturo Corrales Alvarez, Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Honduras, who expressed his commitment to send soon the Kampala Amendments to the Rome Statute and the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) for discussion to the Parliament.

Under the leadership of PGA member, Dip. Jorge Calix, on 9 October 2014 the Legislative Assembly of Honduras discussed and approved, with 101 votes in favor from 128 total votes, a motion to request the Government to send the bill of ratification of the Kampala Amendments. The motion was sent on the 22 of October and the Parliament is awaiting for the government decision on this regard.

On July 2013 Honduras co-signed a stamen with other Latin American Rome Statute Parties,  Communique on the International Criminal Justice day, calling for the UN to continue supporting ad-hoc tribunals, special tribunals established after arrangements between States and the organization and the ICC. Also, it recognizes the role of the ICC in maintaining international stability, praises its proceedings as impartial and unbiased, and invites other countries to accede to the Rome Statue.

Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR)

Honduras accepted the following 3 recommendations from the ICC for the 22nd session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which it considers already implemented or in the process of implementation: Fully adapt their legislation to the Statute of the International Criminal Court; fully align its national legislation with the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; fully implement the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court into national law.

Additional Relevant Information

As a member of the Organization of American States, Honduras has supported the promotion of the International Criminal Court through the adoption of an annual resolution by the General Assembly of the OAS, as well as by the holding of a working meeting of high level within the Political and Juridical Affairs Committee of the OAS.

Key Documents
Related Activities
Press Coverage
PGA in the Media
Other Parliamentary Actions against Impunity
  • 01 April 2014: Open letter to Guatemalan Congress from European Parliamentarians (including PGA mebmers) on Judicial Independence: English | Spanish
  • June 2013: Open letter to the President of Guatemala, Otto Perez Molina from European Parliamentarians on the resumption of the Trial against Rios Montt - ENGLISH |  SPANISH

Status of the Rome Statute System as of February 2024:

 
States that have ratified the Rome Statute [124]
 
States that have signed the Rome Statute but have not ratified it yet [30]
 
States that have withdrawn from the Rome Statute [2]
 
States that have neither signed nor ratified the Rome Statute
 

124 countries are States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Of these, 33 are African States, 19 are Asia-Pacific States, 19 are from Eastern Europe, 28 are from Latin American and Caribbean States, and 25 are from Western European and other States.

Work of PGA in this Country:

The 10th Consultative Assembly of Parliamentarians for the International Criminal Court and the Rule of Law (CAP-ICC) and 40th Annual Forum of PGA took place 16-17 November 2018 in Kyiv, Ukraine.

10th CAP-ICC and 40th Annual Forum of PGA

Parliament of Ukraine in Kyiv, 16-17 November 2018.

This Seminar was hosted by the National Congress of Honduras on 18 and 19 October 2018, in the capital city Tegucigalpa.

Sub-regional Parliamentary Seminar on the Universality and Implementation of the Rome Statute

This Seminar was hosted by the National Congress of Honduras on 18 and 19 October 2018, in the capital city Tegucigalpa.

Dip. Ramos Soto (left) and Dip. Jorge Cálix (right).

PGA Welcomes the Inclusion of the Crime of Aggression in the New Criminal Code of Honduras

The Plenary of the Honduran Congress unanimously approved the inclusion of the crime of aggression in the new Criminal Code.

Dip. Ramos Soto (left) and Dip. Jorge Cálix (right).

Parliamentary Constitutional Committee in Honduras approves Cooperation Bill with ICC

On 16 November 2016, the Constitutional Committee chaired by PGA member Dip. Ramos Soto, approved the bill that creates national mechanisms to efficiently cooperate with the ICC tabled by PGA member Dip. Jorge Cálix.

PGA Members from across the African continent and the rest of the world have chosen to stand up for justice and are asking their South-African peers to make sure that the withdrawal does not go through.

PGA Members Call on South African MPs to Stand Against Impunity in reaction to South African Government’s Decision to Withdraw from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

News broke today that the Government of South Africa has notified the United Nations Secretary General of its intention to withdraw from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

This seminar aimed to provide a space in which legislators and other stakeholders could exchange views on progress made and challenges that remain regarding the full implementation of the principles and crimes of the Rome Statute.

Sub-Regional Parliamentary Seminar on the ICC: Legislators from Latin America commit to the principle of Never again and Reparation for Victims

On 28-29 September 2016, in the framework of its Parliamentary Campaign for the Effectiveness and Universality of the Rome Statute, Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) organized a Parliamentary Seminar.

Diputada Minou Tavarez Mirabal, Rep. Dominicana (President of PGA) addresses the Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs

2016 Working Session on the ICC convened by the Permanent Council of the OAS

In February 2016, PGA President, Dip. Minou Tavarez Mirabal (Dominican Republic) addressed the Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs of the Organization of American States (OAS) at its regular high-level session on the International Criminal Court.

Photo courtesy of Chamber of Deputies, Uruguay

Sub-regional Meeting on the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court: A Commitment to Democracy and the Rule of Law in the Latin America Region

Parliamentary Seminar and a Technical Workshop in the framework of the Campaign for the Rome Statute of the ICC for the Effectiveness of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

Parliamentarians from Latin America at the Chamber of Representatives of Uruguay in Montevideo, PGA Parliamentary Seminar and technical Workshop

Sub-Regional Working Group on Challenges for the Effectiveness of the Rome Statute system in the Americas

The intense activities and discussions brought together over 25 Parliamentarians from 12 different Latin American States.

Publication

Parliamentary Kit on the International Criminal Court
Parliamentary Kit on the International Criminal Court

Parliamentary Kit on the International Criminal Court

It is imperative that the Rome Statute be ratified universally for the successful functioning of the Court. Parliamentarians should ensure that the ICC is truly universal.

Description

Created by the Rome Statute, the International Criminal Court (ICC) is the first permanent and independent international court capable of investigating and bringing to justice individuals who commit the most serious violations of international criminal law, international humanitarian law, and human rights.

The Rome Statute defines the crimes under the Court’s jurisdiction and provides the general principles and procedures for the operation of the Court. It also outlines the cooperation obligations of its State Parties. It is imperative that the Rome Statute be ratified universally for the successful functioning of the Court. Parliamentarians should ensure that the ICC is truly universal.

PDF(s)

Additional Details

  • Publication Type: Toolkit
  • Author(s): Parliamentarians for Global Action

Publication

Handbook for Parliamentarians: National Nomination of Judicial Candidates for the International Criminal Court (ICC)
Handbook for Parliamentarians: National Nomination of Judicial Candidates for the International Criminal Court (ICC)

Handbook for Parliamentarians: National Nomination of Judicial Candidates for the International Criminal Court (ICC)

Description

The ICC is the first and only permanent independent court with the mandate to investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for committing international crimes, namely genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. Its 18 judges from around the world, elected for a nine-year term, play a key role in ensuring this expectation is lived up to through their primary mandate to render authoritative and high-quality jurisprudence and guarantee fair trials.

Therefore, the quality of the judges has fundamental importance to the performance, efficiency, and effectiveness of the ICC, which is at the heart of the long-term success of the ICC and the Rome Statute system as a whole. In this handbook, PGA sets forth specific criteria and recommendations for Parliamentarians to encourage their governments to improve national nomination procedures for ICC judicial candidates and adopt good practices and requirements to ensure these processes are fair, transparent, and merit-based. The goal of robust nomination procedures is to ensure that only candidate judges or jurists of the highest caliber make it on the ballot.

PDF(s)

Additional Details

  • Publication Type: Handbook
  • Author(s): Parliamentarians for Global Action

Publication

Handbook: Ratification and Implementation of the Kampala Amendments on the Crime of Aggression to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
Handbook: Ratification and Implementation of the Kampala Amendments on the Crime of Aggression to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

Handbook: Ratification and Implementation of the Kampala Amendments on the Crime of Aggression to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

Description

It is our honor and privilege to present to you the Third Edition of the Handbook on the Ratification and Implementation of the Kampala Amendments on the Crime of Aggression to the Rome Statute of the ICC.

It is the product of our collaborative effort aimed at assisting States in ratifying the amendments adopted by consensus in Kampala and helping criminalize the most serious forms of the illegal use of force.

PDF(s)

Additional Details

  • Publication Type: Handbook
  • Author(s): Permanent Mission of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the United Nations; Global Institute for the Prevention of Aggression; Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination at Princeton University (LISD); (Drafting Assistance by PGA)