Samoa ratifies crime of aggression amendments: On 25 September 2012, Samoa deposited its instrument of ratification of the Kampala amendments with the Office of Legal Affairs at the United Nations. It is the second country to ratify them. 28 are still needed for activation of the Court’s jurisdiction over the crime of aggression. The Prime Minister assures that “Samoa is not a member of any military grouping and has no aspirations to become one. We do so because we place great faith in the rule of law and the vital protection that the law offers to all States, especially to the weak and small. From this perspective, we consider the International Criminal Court one of the most important developments in the affairs of the international community in the struggle against impunity ….”

Photo: Prime Minister of Samoa, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, deposits ratification bill with United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, Patricia O’Brien.