Japan Prepares to Join ICC

September 12, 2006 -- In a move that sends a strong message to the United States, the Foreign Ministry of Japan announced yesterday that the East Asian island nation is officially preparing to join the International Criminal Court (ICC) by July 2007.
Until now, Japan has withstood national and international campaigns for ratification due to both U.S. opposition to the ICC and Japan’s own financial considerations. However, the Foreign Ministry’s announcement makes clear that these considerations are no longer compelling. In fact, the Ministry indicated that one reason for ratifying the Rome Statute of the ICC will be to ensure Japan a role in the 2009 Review Conference, which will focus on, among other issues, the inclusion of the crime of aggression in the Rome Statute.
As a member state, Japan will make yearly contributions to the Court, which is the Court’s primary source of income. Because member contributions to the ICC are based on each country’s economy, Japan would pay an estimated 1.98 billion yen (16.9 million dollars) upon ratification next year. This would make Japan the largest contributor to the ICC, beating the current top contributor, Germany.
Since its establishment in July 2002, the ICC has had unprecedented international support. Currently, the Court boasts 102 member states, with the newest ratifications coming from Comoros (Africa) and St. Kitts & Nevis (Caribbean). Japan’s ratification will further diversify the ICC’s membership and encourage other Asian countries to ratify the only permanent international criminal court capable of trying the most heinous crimes.

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