On the occasion of the 33rd ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary assembly in Malta, a&nbsp;debate on&nbsp;"Impunity for crimes against humanity"&nbsp;takes place. Statements by Sidiki KABA, President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and Michael GAHLER (EPP, DE).

debate

GAHLER, Michael (EPP, DE)

Malta

33rd ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (T)

33rd ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary assembly: extracts from the debate "Impunity for crimes against humanity"

Establishing shots St Julian's, Malta

Exterior conference venue (3 shots)

SOUNDBITE (French), Sidiki KABA, President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Africa doesn&rsquo;t refute the combat against impunity.

SOUNDBITE (French), Sidiki KABA, President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, The demarche of certain African countries is to start the reflection. The procedure of redraw of Roma status must be analysed, as a manner for them to put in to discussion the certain existing principles concerning the functioning of the Court. But what is important in those circumstances is the dialogue, to make all possible to allow all different positions to be debated within the Parties States Assembly .

SOUNDBITE (English), Michael GAHLER (EPP, DE), It is important especially for the victims because they seek justice, and if they cannot get it on their local level, or on a regional or in a continental court , that is a measure of last resort, and we are not there yet as universality.

SOUNDBITE (English), Michael GAHLER (EPP, DE), The fact that as far, there are only African people in the dock , is due to the fact is that it is them who have been broth there. Because of special circumstances, for instance, for ex Yugoslavia, normally they should have all ended up there, the US that is not party to it, they insisted that there should be a special court and we have had a special Court for Rwanda as well. So it doesn&rsquo;t mean that if doesn&rsquo;t end up at the IJC there is not justice, but indeed its looks as if it&rsquo;s were for Africans only, which is definitely not the case.

SOUNDBITE (English), Michael GAHLER (EPP, DE), I think it is essential that justice is enforced, at the end it doesn&rsquo;t matter on which level. But any African country that pools out , and with unacceptable arguments should than give a road map to get in the African Court for human and People&rsquo;s rights which is exist under the charter of the African Union, to  get this Court functional.  