Actions taken:
Slovenia supports full implementation of the Rome Statute, its universality and integrity. It upholds the work and effective functioning of the International Criminal Court, its independence and impartiality.
The principle of complementarity is one of the key principles of the Rome Statute. As the primary responsibility for bringing perpetrators of crimes to justice lies with States, it is of significant importance to strengthen the fight against impunity and enhance effective and factual cooperation between national courts of different States. For more than a decade, Slovenia contributed substantially within the MLA Initiative Core Group to the efforts for the adoption of a new multilateral instrument in this field. To this end, Slovenia hosted a Diplomatic Conference in Ljubljana from 15-26 May 2023, where the Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of Genocide, Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes and other International Crimes was adopted on 26 May 2023. The Ljubljana-The Hague Convention represents a landmark treaty that will help deliver justice to victims of atrocities and seizes a historic opportunity to strengthen international legal cooperation.
The Agreement on the Enforcement of Sentences of the ICC, concluded in 2019, entered into force on 1 April 2022.
In 2022 Slovenia ratified the amendments to the Rome Statute regarding employment of weapons, which use microbial or other biological agents or toxins, of weapons the primary effect of which is to injure by fragments which in the human body escape detection by X-rays, of laser weapons, and regarding intentionally using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare. These amendments entered into force for Slovenia on 1 December 2023.
Slovenia regularly participates in the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute. At the 22nd Session in December 2023 in New York, Slovenia was elected a member of the Bureau of the Assembly for the third time, with a mandate until and including the 25th Assembly in 2026.
At this session, Ms Beti Hohler, a nominee from Slovenia was elected a judge of the ICC. She will begin the nine-year term in March 2024.
The protection of victims is at the heart of the Rome Statute system. In this regard, Slovenia further contributed voluntarily to the Trust Fund for Victims in 2022 and 2023 to assist in redressing the harm suffered by victims of atrocities, through reparation ordered by the Court and other programmes for their benefit.
Slovenia regularly voices its support for both, the ICC and the fight against impunity in general bilaterally and in multilateral fora.
The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs takes part in annual informal ministerial network meetings in support of the ICC on the margins of High Level Week of the UN General Assembly. High officials of Slovenia regularly meet with representatives of the ICC in order to foster cooperation and support for the Court.
In addition, Slovenia reiterates its unwavering support for the fight against impunity and the ICC on different occasions within the UN system, including its national statements, joining or co-sponsoring other statements, and supporting resolutions. Among these are resolution after the presentation of the Report of the ICC in the General Assembly, as well as marking of the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the Rome Statute in July 2022 and the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute in July 2023.
In January 2024, Slovenia became a non-permanent member of the Security Council of the UN. In the two year term, Slovenia will pay special attention also to conflict prevention and protection of civilians and the most vulnerable groups of population in conflicts and stand for dialogue, peace, security and stability, in commitment to the principles of the UN charter, international law and human rights.
By participating in the European Council Working Group of legal advisors on the ICC (COJUR-ICC), Slovenia fosters the advancing of the EU Action Plan aimed at promoting universal support for the Rome Statute of the ICC.
Within bilateral fora, Slovenia regularly promotes the ICC in relations with States non-parties to the Rome Statute in the context of the fight against impunity, the need for universal recognition of the importance of the Rome Statute, cooperation with the Court and protection of integrity and independence of the Court.
Similarly, Slovenia promotes the Ljubljana-The Hague Convention as an important tool to foster and support international legal cooperation with the purpose to ensure accountability of the perpetrators of international crimes, to bring justice to victims and contribute to the prevention of atrocities.
