With its mandate to oversee peace and security in the world, the UN Security Council is a prime forum for states to promote justice and accountability. In recent years, Latin American states in particular have used the Security Council platform to speak strongly in support of international justice and, more specifically, the ICC.<\/p>\n
A look at the different votes and initiatives put forward by Latin American Council members over the past few years bears witness to the region\u2019s commitment to justice.<\/p>\n
Chile joins calls for veto reform<\/strong><\/p>\n After a Security Council resolution referring the Syrian conflict to the ICC was vetoed<\/a> by Russia and China last month, Chile<\/a>\u2014the newest Latin American state to join the Security Council\u2014joined France, Rwanda, Jordan, Luxembourg and Australia calling for the adoption of a code of conduct restraining the use of the veto on matters involving war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.<\/p>\n Chile\u2019s president had also called for the limitation of the use of the veto by the Security Council\u2019s five permanent members prior to its election to the Council in 2013.<\/p>\n In an additional statement of support for the ICC, Chile noted that the Court has proven to be the best instrument to investigate grave crimes under international law and called for the integrity of the Rome Statute to be respected.<\/p>\n Argentina defends integrity of Rome Statute<\/strong><\/p>\n Argentina<\/a> also spoke strongly in defense of the Rome Statute\u2019s integrity after the Syria resolution was vetoed. The Argentinean representative stressed<\/a> that while she had voted for the referral, she nonetheless had strong concerns regarding provisions that could undermine the Rome Statute and the ICC.<\/p>\n The provisions\u2014each of which was included in previous resolutions referring the situations in Darfur and Libya to the ICC prosecutor\u2014would have:<\/p>\n Argentina previously voiced concern about such provisions during a June 2013 briefing by the ICC prosecutor.<\/p>\n Argentina also expressed its disappointment in the Security Council\u2019s inability to agree upon a viable plan for justice in Syria, signaling that the Council cannot continue to let politics influence its decisions to hold perpetrators of grave crimes accountable or act as though it must choose between peace or justice.<\/p>\n Argentina\u2019s support for international justice was also made clear in abstention from voting to grant a deferral of the ICC investigation in Kenya in 2013. In abstaining, Argentina stressed that peace and justice can go hand in hand.<\/p>\n The South American country has also been a strong voice for enhanced cooperation with the ICC. While holding the Council\u2019s presidency in August 2013, Argentina organized a high-level open debate<\/a> on cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security, <\/em>which was presided over by President Fernandez de Kirchner.<\/p>\n\n