Statement delivered by Katrina Kate Lazdine, Third Secretary of the International Law Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia at the UN Special Session on the Review of the Amendments on the Crime of Aggression
New York, 8 July 2025
Madam President,
Distinguished delegates,
At the outset, let me state that Latvia fully aligns with the statement delivered yesterday on behalf of the members of the Group of Friends.
The Kampala Amendments represent a historic milestone in international criminal law. With these Amendments, the source of all crimes – the crime of aggression – was officially incorporated into the Rome Statute, as the drafters had intended from the very beginning. Indeed, the adoption and wide ratification of the Kampala Amendments is proof of the strong and shared will of States Parties to end impunity for all atrocities that deeply shock the conscience of humanity.
Nevertheless, we must recognise that limitations remain. While genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression constitute the most serious crimes of international law, the ICC currently cannot exercise its jurisdiction over the crime of aggression in cases where the aggressor is not a State Party. The restrictions of the Kampala Amendments are especially evident in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine – a manifest violation of the United Nations Charter that falls outside of the Court’s reach. Latvia knows this pain all too well, as Russia’s predecessor – the Soviet Union – has never been held accountable for its crimes committed during and after World War II.
This reality underscores the urgent need for us as States Parties to revisit and strengthen the Court’s mandate to ensure that justice is not applied selectively, but that those responsible for aggression are held fully accountable.
As a State Party, Latvia has demonstrated strong and prompt commitment to the fight against impunity. We ratified the Kampala Amendments in 2014, reaffirming our belief that the crime of aggression must be addressed with the same seriousness and accountability as the other core crimes under international law. We are also deeply engaged in other international accountability efforts that address the current accountability gap we encounter.
It is evident, that the momentum to ensure accountability for the crime of aggression is growing and the spirit of the Kampala Amendments is very much alive. All states should seize this opportunity to expand the Court’s mandate, sending a clear message that the mother of all crimes will never go unpunished.
Latvia stands ready to work constructively with all stakeholders during the Special Session toward a consensus-based outcome that reinforces the international criminal justice system.
I thank you.