Buenos Aires/New York/The Hague, 14 June 2022
For the attention of
The Honourable Speaker/President of Parliament
Dear Honourable Speaker/President,
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President
Hon. Kasthuri Patto MP (Malaysia)
Treasurer
Ms. Petra Bayr, MP, Austria
Board
Hon. Valerie Woods, Speaker of Parliament, Belize
Mr. Ali Ehsassi, MP, Canada
Dip. Dr. Esther Cuesta, MP, Ecuador
Dip. Jorge Cálix, MP, Honduras
Hon. Dr. Angela Brown-Burke, MP, Jamaica
Hon. Millie Odhiambo, MP, Kenya
Hon. Rozaina Adam, MP, Maldives
Sen. Boris Dittrich, MP, The Netherlands
Hon. Bernard Georges, MP, Seychelles
Ms. Ann-Sofie Alm, MP, Sweden
Mr. Mark Pritchard, MP, United Kingdom
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL
Chair
Hon. Syed Naveed Qamar, MP, Pakistan
Councillors
Sen. Senator Lucila Crexell, MP, Argentina
Ms. Maria Vamvakinou, MP, Australia
Dep. Reine Benao Sakande, MP, Burkina Faso
Dep. José Manuel Sanches Tavares, MP, Cape Verde
Hon. Béatrice Epaye, MP, Central African Republic
Dip. Victor Suárez, MP, Dominican Republic
Dip. Dr. Esther Cuesta, MP, Ecuador
Mr. Fabio Massimo Castaldo, MEP (Italy), European
Parliament
Hon. Dawda Kawsu Jawara, MP, The Gambia
Hon. Supriya Sadanand Sule, MP, India
Ms. Lia Quartapelle, MP, Italy
Hon. Antonio Niquice, MP, Mozambique
Hon. Evelyn Nawases-Taeyele, MP, Namibia
Mr. Adrian Rurawhe, MP, New Zealand
Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, MP, Nigeria
Dep. Raul Cardoso, MP, São Tomé and Príncipe
Mr. Patrick Kensenhuis, MP, Suriname
Mr. Anders Österberg, MP, Sweden
Hon. Jasson Rweikiza, MP, Tanzania
Sen. Wade Mark, Trinidad and Tobago
Hon. Fox Odoi Oywelowo, MP, Uganda
Dr. Hryhoriy Nemyria, MP, Ukraine
Dip. Armando Armas, MP, Venezuela
SECRETARIAT
Secretary-General
Dr. David Donat Cattin
On behalf of Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA), it is our distinct honour to invite you to
participate in the
43
rd
Annual Forum and
12th Consultative Assembly of Parliamentarians on the
International Criminal Court and the Rule of Law (CAP-ICC)
. The
CAP-ICC,
hosted by the
National Congress of Argentina in Buenos Aires,
will be held on
4-5 November 2022
in a hybrid
format with in-person and online participation, and it will include the ceremony of the 2022 Defender of
Democracy Award.
The
CAP-ICC
is the only high-level global gathering of political leaders focused solely on international
justice and the Rule of Law. Since 2002, its meetings represented a unique opportunity for Lawmakers
from all regions of the world to discuss and develop strategies towards reinforcing international and
domestic justice and preventing international crimes while safeguarding the rights of victims and the
accused. The impact of past deliberations of the
CAP-ICC
has been demonstrated by the achievements of
PGA members, who have, as of today, contributed to 78 ratifications of the Rome Statute and played a
key role in the national law-making process to implement the Statute in 37 States.
The ICC is the only permanent international jurisdiction with competence over genocide, crimes against
humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. States created the ICC in Rome in 1998 to prevent the
atrocities that characterized the past century, but the tragic war of aggression against Ukraine and ongoing
atrocities in many situations in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East are demonstrating that
abuses of powers and criminal conduct are still generating conflicts among States or Non-State Actors,
bringing about immense suffering and victimization. And as atrocities and conflicts grow and escalate, they
pose a threat to the very survival of humankind. Hence, ending the impunity of their perpetrators is an
imperative for the International Community as a whole, today more than ever.
Regretfully, while the idea of the ICC as centre-piece of a global order based on the Rule of Law was
embraced by the majority of small and medium powers in the world (123 States Parties), the super-powers
decided to stay out of the Rome Statute system against impunity (China, India, Russia, US). Additionally,
most authoritarian, or dictatorial regimes rejected ratification of the Rome Statute.
Against this background, the goal of the 12
th
CAP-ICC
is to contribute to reverse the global trends that
attempted to eroded International Law, human rights, and democracy in the last two decades and reaffirm
the central role of individual criminal responsibility in international relations and domestic affairs.
In this respect, Legislators can play a pivotal and dynamic role, but they may need support and dialogue
with peers and experts to discuss strategies and effective responses to strengthen judicial and democratic
institutions and provide adequate responses to human rights violations and aggressive wars. Since the
creation of the ICC in 1998 and its entry into force in 2002, the International Community has taken a
commitment to investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for international crimes. As the work of
the ICC is characterized by challenges, the Rome Statute system needs the support of all relevant
stakeholders to perform its mandate effectively:
There will never be sustainable peace without justice.
In light of your prominent leadership role as Speaker/ President of Parliament,
we would be honoured
to welcome you and/or a delegation from your parliament to Buenos Aires on 4-5 November 2022
at the 12
th
CAP-ICC/43
rd
Annual Forum of PGA hosted by the Congress of Argentina.
The
CAP-ICC
sustains a global parliamentary constituency for the Rome Statute system, and it receives
institutional support from the European Union, Denmark, Liechtenstein, The Netherlands, Sweden,
Switzerland, and Oak Foundation.
Please accept, Honourable Speaker/President, the assurances of our highest esteem and consideration.
Dip. Sergio Massa (Argentina)
President, Chamber of Deputies
Hon. Kasthuri Patto (Malasia)
President, PGA
Sen. Lucila Crexell (Argentina)
President, PGA Argentina
HEADQUARTERS:
44 Wall Street, Suite 903, New York, NY 10005 USA – Email:
STICHTING PGA:
Alexanderveld 5, 2585 DB, The Hague, Netherlands
– Website:
www.pgaction.org