As the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Bar president AG Kalidas said this would demonstrate the country’s commitment to ensure that perpetrators of crimes would be held accountable.

The Rome Statute is the ICC’s founding treaty, supported by more than 120 countries. Through this statute, the ICC can give a voice and a face to countless victims globally, as well as be a central place for judicial proceedings.

Citing the ongoing dispute in Israel and Palestine as well as the civil conflict in Myanmar and the alleged mistreatment of civilians and the Rohingya, Kalidas said these were reasons to “put our faith in the ICC — an international institution that calls the perpetrators of such heinous behaviour to account”.

According to him, the ICC had the legal authority to handle humanitarian and human rights abuses worldwide.

“The Malaysian Bar has always been an ardent supporter of our accession of international human rights instruments as well as their optional protocols,” he said in a statement.

He added doing so would promote international peace and stability.

“We humbly urge the government to ratify the Rome Statute to reflect our commitment to the cause of international humanitarian law and peacekeeping.”