Annan urges stepped up ratification of International Criminal Court treaty

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has urged a meeting of Arab States to intensify efforts to ratify the Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

"Justice and accountability are essential for the rule of law to be upheld in democratic societies," Mr. Annan said in a message to the Inter-Governmental Regional Conference on Democracy, Human Rights and the Role of the International Criminal Court held over the weekend in Sana'a, Yemen.

Justice and social unity born of effective democratic systems are "vital antidotes to extremism and terrorism," the Secretary-General stressed.

In the message, which was delivered by Danilo Turk, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, he called the ICC's creation "an historic advance" and urged government officials in attendance to speed the pace of its ratification.

"Violent extremists find fewer recruits in societies where government is by the consent of the people, the rule of law is respected, and human rights are guaranteed and promoted," he pointed out.

Mr. Annan hailed the gathering of leaders from the region, where, he said, "deficits of freedom, women's empowerment, education, and knowledge continue to impede the creative potential of societies, breeding frustration and despair."

The Secretary-General called the conference "an important sign of the commitment of the Arab world to the strengthening of democracy, and of the support of the international community for Arab efforts towards that goal" and pledged his personal support in this effort.