The small Pacific island of Vanuatu has made a historic commitment to international justice and the rule of law. It joins the Philippines and Maldives as the third state from the region to join the Court this year. Vanuatu deposited its instrument of accession of the Rome Statute at United Nations headquarters in New York, the final step in the accession process on Friday.

Vanuatu has already taken measures to implement the Rome Statute in to its domestic legal system. The island state adopted a law providing for the investigations and prosecution of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, in August.

“With this act, Vanuatu strengthens its contribution to the international legal order and acquires additional protection for its territory and population against the gravest crimes known to humanity. I hope Vanuatu’s example will encourage other members of the Pacific Island Forum – many of which still remain outside the Rome Statute system – to join the ICC in the near future”, said Judge Sang-Hyun Song- ICC President
Although Vanuatu’s accession to the Rome Statute brings to 17 the number of ICC states parties from the Asia-Pacific, the region remains under-represented at the Court.

“We are confident that this number will continue to grow and that 2012 will see further ratifications from the Asia-Pacific region,” stated Evelyn Serrano, Asia-Pacific regional coordinator for the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC).

“This accession shows the Pacific region’s commitment to international criminal justice. It is also an important milestone for the Assembly of states as the number of States Parties has now reached the number of States that voted in favour of the Rome Statute in 1998”, said Christian Wenaweser - President of the Assembly of States Party to the Rome Statute (ASP).

One hundred and twenty states have now joined the ICC reflecting a growing global consensus towards ending impunity through the Rome Statute system. As a state party, Vanuatu will be able to actively participate as of 2012, in the annual Assembly during which states make important decisions in relation to the administration of the Court.