Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi concerning the Entry into Force of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

July 1, 2002
Japanese

The Government of Japan welcomes the entry into force of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). This Statute will contribute to preventing the most serious crimes of concern to the international community from recurring in the future, thus further strengthening international peace and stability. The Rome Statute bears particular significance as it establishes, for the first time in history, a standing international court to judge such crimes.
Japan has consistently supported the establishment of the ICC. During the Rome Diplomatic Conference in 1998, Japan worked actively for the adoption of the ICC Statute. Japan has also been actively engaging in the effort to establish the ICC, including participating in ten sessions of the Preparatory Commission in New York. Japan has sent its delegations to all the deliberations to make a constructive contribution.
With regard to its conclusion of the ICC Statute, the Government of Japan is currently conducting thorough examination of the articles of the Statute, legal measures taken by other states in accepting the instrument, so as to ensure the compatibility between the Statute and Japan's own domestic law. Now that the ICC Statute has entered into force, Japan intends to accelerate such examination.

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