Amendments to Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (2017 war crimes amendments)

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Treaty Code:

M2017-05

Treaty Type:

Multilateral

Common Name:

Belgium Amendments to Article 8 of the Rome Statute

Responsible Department:

Foreign Affairs and Trade

Administering Department:

Treaty Status:

In Force

Treaty Summary:

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, adopted in 1998, established the International Criminal Court.

On 14 December 2017, the 16th Session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court adopted Resolution ICC-ASP/16/Res.4 amending article 8 of the Rome Statute (war crimes amendments).

The amendments give the Court jurisdiction over the following war crimes:

- employing weapons, which use microbial or other biological agents, or toxins, whatever their origin or method of production;

- employing weapons the primary effect of which is to injure by fragments which in the human body escape detection by X-rays;

- employing laser weapons specifically designed, as their sole combat function or as one of their combat functions, to cause permanent blindness to unenhanced vision, that is to the naked eye or to the eye with corrective eyesight devices

in both international armed conflict and in armed conflict not of an international character.

In accordance with the Rome Statute, the amendments enter into force for those States Parties which have accepted the amendment one year after the deposit of their instruments of ratification or acceptance. In respect of a State Party which has not accepted the amendment, the Court shall not exercise its jurisdiction over the crime covered by the amendment when committed by that State Party's nationals or on its territory.

 New Zealand deposited its instrument(s) of ratification for these amendments on 14 October 2020. They will come into force for New Zealand under the Rome Statute on 14 October 2021.

NZ Adherence Status:

In Force

Adherence Type:

Signature Date:

Adherence Date:

Expired:

No

Date Concluded:

14/12/2017

Place Concluded:

New York

Entry Into Force Date:

14/10/2021

NZ Entry Into Force Date:

14/10/2021

Termination Date:

Withdrawal Date:

Withdrawal Notification Date:

NZ Objections:

No

NZ Reservations:

No

NZ Declarations:

No

NZ Territorial Applications:

None

NZTS Number:

UNTS Number:

Associated Treaties:

Other References:

Parties:

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