Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Wednesday approved a law that allows the International
Criminal Court in the Hague to intervene in alleged war crimes
committed by Colombia’s armed forces.
According to a press statement by the Interior and Justice Ministry, the law “adopts the standards approved by the General Assembly of the Involved States of the International Criminal Court in New York in September 2002.”
“This way the State of Colombia confirms to fulfill its commitments to the international community by establishing and enforcing regulations to allow the effective functioning of the ICC,” the statement continued.
Colombia agreed to take part in the International Criminal Court in 2002, but the Pastrana administration forced an exceptional position to allow peace talks with the FARC. The exception was later used by the current President Uribe to demobilize the AUC.
The law will take effect in November 2009.