Zuma urged to rethink ICC withdrawal

Freedom Under Law (FUL) has urged President Jacob Zuma and Department of International Relations and Co-operation to use the Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) judgment as an opportunity to rethink SA’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, notes a TimesLIVE report. In a statement yesterday, it said: ‘While the judgment is confined to the procedural regularity of the withdrawal notification – finding that parliamentary approval and repeal of SA’s Implementation Act were first required – FUL believes that the reflection the court demanded should extend to the substance of the proposed step. The constitutional imperative that SA respects‚ protects‚ promotes and fulfils human rights entails that those made victim of egregious crimes be offered redress and processes of accountability. In turning its back on the International Criminal Court‚ SA leaves victims of these crimes without effective remedy – an omission that offends against SA’s expansive constitutional project.’ The High Court found the government’s decision to withdraw from the ICC was unconstitutional and invalid. Deputy Judge President Phineas Mojapelo ordered that the notice of withdrawal be withdrawn.