Bangladesh Parliament Ratifies ICC Statute

The Bangladesh Parliament ratified the Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court (ICC) yesterday, which should allow it to become the 111th State to join the ICC.  Bangladesh had signed the Statute in 1999, but did not immediately ratify it.  To complete the ratification process, Bangladesh must deposit its instrument of ratification by April 1, 2010.

The ICC's jurisdiction currently extends to three major categories of crimes: gencide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.  Its jurisdiction is prospective, so it will not hear cases involving any crimes that may have been committed in Bangladesh before the Statute took effect.

(cgb)