Amendment of Article 8 of the Statute of the International Criminal Court

[Change in German-language translation, see annexes]

[Amendment in English language version, see annexes]

[Change in French language version, see annexes]

The instrument of ratification, signed by the Federal President and countersigned by the Federal Chancellor, was deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations on 17 July 2014. The present amendment to Article 8 of the Statute is applicable to Austria in accordance with Article 121 (5) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (BGBl). (III) No 180/2002), in force on 17 July 2015.

According to statements by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the following other States have ratified or adopted the amendment to Article 8 of the Statute of the International Criminal Court:

States:	Date of entry into force pursuant to Art. 121 (5):
Andorra	26 September 2014
Belgium	26 November 2014
Botswana	4 June 2014
Costa Rica	5 February 2016
Germany	3 June 2014
Estonia	27 March 2014
Croatia	20 December 2014
Latvia	25 September 2015
Liechtenstein	May 8, 2013
Luxembourg	15 January 2014
Malta	30 January 2016
Mauritius	5 September 2014
Norway	10 June 2014
Poland	25 September 2015
Samoa	25 September 2013
San Marino	26 September 2012
Slovakia	28 April 2015
Slovenia	25 September 2014
Spain	25 September 2015
Trinidad and Tobago	13 November 2013
Czech Republic	12 March 2016
Uruguay	26 September 2014
Cyprus	25 September 2014

On the occasion of the deposit of the instrument of acceptance, the Czech Republic has issued the following interpretative statement concerning the amendment of Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court:

" (i) the prohibition in accordance with Art. 8 (2) lit. e Z xiv, suffocating, toxic or similar gases and any other similar liquids, substances or devices shall apply within the meaning of the provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of chemical weapons and on the destruction of such weapons in 1993.

(ii) the prohibition to use bullets which are easily extended or flattened in the body of man, for example projectiles with a hard coat which does not completely enclose the core or is provided with incisions, shall not apply to: Use of such projectiles in the exercise of police force in the enforcement of laws and for the maintenance of public order, which do not justify direct participation in an armed conflict, such as the rescuing of hostages and the Disconnection of kidnappers of civilian aircraft. "

Faymann