As President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, I wish to express my deep appreciation for today´s decision by the Government of the United States to revoke Executive Order 13928 and to lift the unfortunate sanctions against the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and a senior staff member in her office, as well as the termination of the separate 2019 policy on visa restrictions on certain ICC personnel.
I welcome this decision which contributes to strengthening the work of the Court and, more generally, to promoting a rules-based international order. I note that the decision comes at a fundamental juncture in which the Assembly of States Parties and the Court have embarked on a wide-ranging review process to enhance the Rome Statute system in the pursuit of accountability for the gravest crimes of international concern. I trust this decision signals the start of a new phase of our common undertaking to fight against impunity for such crimes. The Assembly and its subsidiary bodies have always welcomed the participation of the United States, and indeed of all States, in their work as well as encouraged a fruitful cooperation with the Court´s activities.
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The Assembly of States Parties is the management oversight and legislative body of the ICC. It is comprised of representatives of States that have ratified or acceded to the Rome Statute. President Silvia Fernandez de Gurmendi was elected President of the Assembly for a three-year mandate in February 2021.