(Adopted at the fourth plenary session held on June
4, 2002)
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
RECALLING its resolutions AG/RES. 1619 (XXIX-O/99), AG/RES. 1706
(XXX-O/00), AG/RES. 1709 (XXX-O/00), AG/RES. 1770 (XXXI-O/01), and AG/RES.
1771 (XXXI-O/01), the recommendation of the Inter-American Commission on Human
Rights (OEA/Ser.L/V/II.102, Doc. 6 rev. April 16, 1999, Chap. VII, 21.3.B),
and the document “Framework for OAS Action on the International Criminal
Court” (CP/INF.248/00);
HAVING CONSIDERED the report of the Secretary General on the
implementation of resolutions AG/RES. 1770 (XXXI-O/01) and AG/RES. 1771
(XXXI-O/01), and bearing in mind the recommendations therein;
CONCERNED over the persistent violations of international humanitarian
law and international human rights law throughout the world and the fact that
the perpetrators of those acts go unpunished;
AFFIRMING that the states have the primary duty to prosecute those
crimes so as to prevent their recurrence, and that complementary international
agencies are needed to ensure the exercise of justice;
WELCOMING the historic entry into force of the International Criminal
Court on July 1, 2002;
RECOGNIZING that 139 states, including 26 member states of the
Organization of American States, have signed the Rome Statute and that 66
states, including 12 member states of the Organization of American States,
have ratified or acceded to it; and
EXPRESSING ITS SATISFACTION that a special meeting of the Committee on
Juridical and Political Affairs was held at OAS headquarters on March 6, 2002,
on the promotion and observance of international humanitarian law, the
findings of which are summarized in the document entitled Rapporteur’s
Report on the Special Meeting of the Committee on Juridical and Political
Affairs for the Promotion of International Humanitarian Law
(OEA/Ser.K/XVI/DIH/doc.6/02), which was submitted for consideration by the
Fourth Meeting of Ministers of Justice or of Ministers or Attorneys General of
the Americas,
RESOLVES:
1.
To urge those member states of the Organization that have not already
done so to ratify or accede to, as applicable, the Rome Statute of the
International Criminal Court.
2.
To urge the member states of the Organization to participate in the
meetings of the Preparatory Committee of the International Criminal Court,
with a view to ensuring optimal operating conditions for the Court once it is
established, in the context of unwavering protection of the integrity of the
Rome Statute.
3.
To urge the member states of the Organization that are party to the
Rome Statute to adapt and make the necessary changes in their domestic
legislation for the effective implementation of the Rome Statute.
4.
To request the Inter-American Juridical Committee to ensure that the
agenda for the next joint meeting with legal advisers of the foreign
ministries of OAS member states includes a discussion of mechanisms to address
and prevent the recurrence of serious violations of international humanitarian
law and international human rights law, as well as of the role of the
International Criminal Court in that process.
5.
To request the Permanent Council to report to the General Assembly at
its thirty-third regular session on the implementation of this resolution.
