San Marino became the first nation to ratify an amendment proposed at the 2010 Kampala Review Conference of the Rome Statute, which governs the International Criminal Court. San Marino deposited its ratification of the amendment to Article 8 at U.N. Headquarters today becoming the first nation to ratify the amendment classifying the use of weaponized gasses, poisons and hollow point bullets in conflicts not of an international character as a war crime. The use of such weapons is already outlawed in international armed conflicts under Article 8 2 (b) of the Rome Statute.
The amendment, initially proposed by Belgium, was one of three submitted at the Kampala Review Conference. The other two amendments would begin to substantively define the Crime of Aggression, and eliminate the option of parties to the treaty to exclude I.C.C. jurisdiction over their nationals for seven years upon ratification.
President of the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court Christian Wenaweser issued a statement welcoming the ratification, adding that he hopes this will serve as a “… catalyst for other States to follow, both regarding article 8 and the amendments on the crime of aggression.”
