Human rights lawyer Kristina Conti asserted that if there is an institution that should take a stand amid ongoing bombings, it is the United Nations, not the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Her statement came in response to a social media post by Congressman Paolo Duterte, who said that amid the current conflict, the ICC appeared “blind, deaf, and mute,” noting the absence of emergency statements, dramatic press briefings, or urgency regarding jurisdiction.
In her statement, Conti emphasized that there remains a fundamental misunderstanding about the ICC’s mandate.
She explained that while some countries have signed the Rome Statute, nations such as Iran, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates have not fully joined the Court.
She added that the United States and Israel, which she referred to as among the aggressors, are also not members of the ICC.
Conti further reiterated that the reason the congressman’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, is detained under ICC proceedings is due to allegations that he ordered widespread killings from his time as mayor of Davao City until his presidency.
She also pointed out that the ICC asserts jurisdiction over the case because the Philippines was a member of the international court from 2011 to 2019.
