Bogotá Agreement Welcomed as a Turning Point for International Justice

GOOD Statement by Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General:

The GOOD Party welcomes the landmark outcomes of the Emergency Ministerial Conference of The Hague Group, jointly convened by South Africa and Colombia in Bogotá. This coordinated multilateral action marks the most significant and principled stand yet taken to halt the genocide in Gaza and to restore the credibility of international law.

The measures agreed upon, including arms embargoes, accountability mechanisms, economic disengagement from Israel’s illegal occupation, and the adoption of universal jurisdiction, represent more than a diplomatic gesture. They are a decisive break from decades of impunity and a courageous affirmation that no state is above the law.

GOOD has consistently supported South Africa’s efforts to seek justice for the Palestinian people, from the application to the International Court of Justice to our support for the ICC’s arrest warrants against both Israeli and Hamas leaders. Our endorsement of South Africa’s participation in The Hague Group is rooted in a belief that international justice must be defended and enforced, not just spoken of in theory.

The Bogotá Agreement is a critical step forward. It signals that words of condemnation are no longer enough, and that coordinated, lawful action is both possible and necessary.

We commend the 12 states, including South Africa, who have committed to the immediate implementation of the six measures through their domestic systems, and we urge other nations to follow suit before the September deadline.

Of course, those countries with vested interests in preserving global inequality and injustice have not signed up. Their disregard for the principles of interdependence, common cause, morality, and fairness only reinforces the importance of relationships like the one forged in Bogotá.

South Africa’s leadership in this moment is not just historically consistent, it is morally imperative. The era of selective justice must end. Whether in Palestine or elsewhere, international law must be applied equally.

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