On October 9, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted in the second reading draft law No. 11484, introducing significant amendments to the Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code. A total of 228 parliamentarians voted in favor of the bill, marking a crucial step toward aligning Ukraine's legal framework with international norms outlined in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Prior to these amendments, Ukraine's Criminal Code lacked provisions for prosecuting crimes against humanity and certain war crimes, rendering it inconsistent with modern international law. The new legislation fills these gaps by defining these crimes and establishing penalties for them.
A notable addition to the Criminal Code is the concept of command responsibility. This principle holds military commanders and superiors criminally liable for war crimes committed by their subordinates if they knew, or should have known, about the actions and failed to prevent or punish them. This aligns Ukraine's laws with international standards on military accountability.
Ukraine initially signed the Rome Statute on January 20, 2000. The recent legislative efforts indicate a renewed commitment to ratifying the Statute and fully integrating its provisions into national law. According to official statements on the Verkhovna Rada's website, the next steps involve final approvals and the President's signature to enact the law.
These developments demonstrate Ukraine's dedication to upholding international justice and strengthening the rule of law within its jurisdiction. By adopting these amendments, Ukraine moves closer to ratifying the Rome Statute, thereby enabling the ICC to exercise its jurisdiction over serious international crimes committed on Ukrainian territory.
