UN HQ, Manhattan, New York, United States | July 10, 2025 — At a pivotal side event during the Special Session of the Assembly of States Parties on the Review of Amendments
to the Rome Statute, the Republic of Liberia delivered a statement calling on the international community to harmonize and strengthen the crime of aggression regime under the International Criminal Court (ICC). The statement was delivered by Atty. Edrick F. Noah, Assistant Minister for Administration & Public Safety at the Ministry of Justice, on behalf of the Government of Liberia.
Speaking at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on July 8, 2025, Assistant Minister Noah emphasized Liberia’s unwavering commitment to international peace, justice, and accountability, particularly as the nation prepares to assume a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2026–2027 term.
“There can be no peace without justice,” Minister Noah declared, calling the current review of the Kampala Amendments on the crime of aggression a “watershed moment” in the collective efforts of the Assembly of States Parties.
He highlighted growing global threats — including the resurgence of armed conflicts, coercive power projection, and violations of sovereignty — as stark reminders of the urgent need to update and clarify international legal standards for the crime of aggression. He warned that continued jurisdictional limitations, especially the exclusion of nationals from non-state parties and the opt-out provisions in the current regime, threaten to undermine both the credibility and the effectiveness of the Rome Statute.
“It is an act of hypocrisy to refer to aggression as the ‘Supreme International Crime’ and yet fail to accord it the seriousness it deserves,” Minister Noah said. “We must move beyond lip service.”
Liberia’s statement called for the international community to take decisive action by harmonizing jurisdictional standards, eliminating political loopholes in Security Council referrals, and prioritizing support for victims.
“The effects of aggression extend far beyond the battlefield,” he added. “Amending the crime of aggression regime is not only a legal necessity but a moral imperative.”
Liberia’s appeal concluded with a call for unity among member states to ensure the international justice system evolves to meet the demands of the present and expectations of future generations.
The side event was held as part of the Special Session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, focused on reviewing the 2010 Kampala Amendments on the Crime of Aggression. These discussions seek to expand and strengthen the ICC’s jurisdiction and ability to prosecute acts of aggression by states, ensuring global justice and accountability.
