International Criminal Court

Portugal has signed the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court on 17 July 1998, ratified it on 18 January 2002 and made the deposit of its instrument of ratification on 5 February 2002. Portugal is strongly committed to fully implement its obligations under the Rome Statute. Law nr. 31/2004, of 22 July 2004, has established legislation adapting Portuguese Criminal Law to the Statute of the International Criminal Court, approving the Criminal Law Concerning Offences against International Humanitarian Law.

Portugal has ratified the Kampala Amendments to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court on 20 February 2017 and has made the deposit of its instrument of ratification on 11 April 2017. Portugal is confident that the entry into force of the Amendments will contribute to furthering the universality of the ICC’s jurisdiction.

On December 2002, Portugal has signed the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Criminal Court, adopted in New York, on 9 September 2002, has ratified it on 10 September 2007 and made the deposit of its instrument of ratification on 3 October 2007.

Portugal has also been a constant advocate for the ICC’s central role in ensuring accountability for the most serious crimes under international law, namely during the Portuguese mandate in the Security Council (2011-2012), as an active member of the bureau of the Assembly of States Parties (2012-2014) and in the framework of the UN General Assembly.

As a member of the Human Rights Council (2015-2017), Portugal remains committed to supporting the role of the Court to fight impunity and to ensure perpetrators of serious human rights violations and abuses that may constitute crimes against humanity are held accountable. In the framework of the Humans Rights Council Universal Periodic Review, Portugal has recommended, as appropriate, that States under review become party to the Rome Statute, without reservations.