Colombia files a declaration of intervention in the proceedings under Article 63 of the Statute – Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel) – ICJ Press release

5 April 2024

[PDF text of the Declaration of intervention by the Republic of Colombia is attached below]

THE HAGUE. Today, Colombia, invoking Article 63 of the Statute of the Court, filed in the Registry of the Court a declaration of intervention in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel).

Pursuant to Article 63 of the Statute, whenever the construction of a convention to which States other than those concerned in the case are parties is in question, each of these States has the right to intervene in the proceedings. If a State uses this right, the construction given by the judgment of the Court will be equally binding upon it.

In availing itself of the right of intervention conferred by Article 63 of the Statute, Colombia relies on its status as a party to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (the “Genocide Convention”). In its declaration, Colombia states that the Genocide Convention is “a cardinal instrument of international law”, and contends that the case “raises vital issues concerning the interpretation and application of several provisions of the Genocide Convention that reflect both erga omnes obligations, owed to the international community as a whole, and erga omnes partes obligations, owed to all States parties to the treaty”. Colombia states that it is submitting its declaration “in the genuine belief that the States parties to the Genocide Convention should do everything in their power to contribute to ensure the prevention, suppression and punishment of genocide [,] and therefore, to assist the Court in finding the responsibility of any State Party to the Convention, for its failure to comply with the obligations contained therein”.

In accordance with Article 83 of the Rules of Court, South Africa and Israel have been invited to furnish written observations on Colombia’s declaration of intervention.

The full text of Colombia’s declaration of intervention is available on the Court’s website