Yemen's government ratifies Rome Statute

Yemen's government has adopted the Rome Statute, accepting the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The cabinet's decision looks set to undergo a parliamentary vote, with political observers sceptical abut parliament's approval. State sources disclosed that the cabinet voted to accept the ICC during its meeting on Tuesday. Yemen signed the Rome Statute on December 27, 2002, but has seen 108 countries implement the legislation since then. ICC's Role Statute outlines the court's jurisdiction to consider cases of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. The international court works with national courts to hold people to hold individuals accused of cross-border crimes to account. In 2007, Yemen's parliament refused to approve the government's decision to join the ICC. Observers say that a similar outcome is possible due to the current political uncertainty in the country.