Maldives calls to criminalize ecocide at the Hague court

The Maldives has called for the criminalization of ecocide at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

On Tuesday, MP for Hoarafushi constituency, and Chair of the Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environment, Ahmed Saleem, delivered a statement on behalf of the Maldives at the 18th session of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Speaking at the assembly, Saleem addressed the threat of climate change to island nations such as the Maldives with over a decade passing since the Maldives reminded the UN security council that our island nation may submerge entirely underwater with a minimum sea-level rise of two meters. Despite this, the international community has failed to take serious and meaningful action to combat the issue since the Maldives called for international attention to the issue.

He referred to climate change studies and research by scientists that have warned against the irreversible impact of climate change and called for transformative changes at the multilateral level necessary to prevent the aftermath of climate change.

Moreover, he reiterated the Maldives' commitment to the Paris Agreement that stipulates all member countries must make international and national efforts to keep a global temperature rise in the 21st century under 2 degrees Celsius.

Despite the high likelihood of being one of the first nations impacted by climate change, the Maldives recognized its lack of time and resources to the broker for another international legal tool to fight for environment protection. Furthermore, he acknowledged the influence of the Hague to hold countries accountable for environmental crimes, or those that violate the Paris Agreement.

As such, the Maldives presented a proposal at the Hague to consider adding an amendment to the Rome Statute that would criminalize acts that amount to Ecocide.

In his concluding remarks, Saleem claimed that it is high time for the international criminal justice system to recognize the plight of climate change victims and do them justice.

The 18th session of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) was held at the World Forum Convention Center in The Hague, The Netherlands from 2-7 December 2019.

The ICC is a treaty-based institution established under the Rome Statute that aims to aid in the global fight against perpetrators of grave crimes of concern to the international community, such as crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide, and the crime of aggression.

The Assembly is the governing management and parliamentary body of the ICC formed as per article 112 of the Rome Statute.

It is comprised of representatives of the States that have approved and endorsed the Rome Statute.