Implementation in Mali

Mali ratified the Rome Statute on August 16, 2000 and has been a strong supporter of the establishment of the International Criminal Court. Mali had recently adopted a new criminal code and a new code of criminal procedure. The crimes contained in the Rome Statute were incorporated in the new criminal code, but the amendments stopped short of implementing other provisions of the Rome Statute such as the general principles of criminal law. Moreover, the definitions incorporated differ significantly from those of the Statute. Government officials have reaffirmed that they are committed to ICC implementation and that they will draft legislation that will enable Mali to cooperate with the Court.

In Mali, local groups decided to form a Coalition for the ICC, with the objective of raising awareness among politicians, officials and the general public on the ICC. In addition, a Steering Committee on Implementation was established, comprising legal experts, to work specifically to promote the process of implementation of the Rome Statute. The Steering Committee decided to draft a legal analysis of the compatibility of Malian law with the Rome Statute and recommendations as to how to best implement all provisions of the Statute into Malian law. This analysis would serve as background document for a national seminar on implementation and would be submitted to the Minister of Justice.