Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the acquittal of Laurent Gbagbo on the efforts of the International Criminal Court to enforce human rights standards.

On 15 January, the International Criminal Court (ICC) Trial Chamber, by majority acquitted Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé of all charges. These judgments have been reached following an independent and impartial judicial process. Our thoughts are with the victims of violence in Cote d'Ivoire and their families. The UK government firmly believes that those who have perpetrated war crimes and crimes against humanity should be held fully accountable. The ICC can play an important role in ending impunity for the most serious international crimes. It has our full support in pursuing the mandate it was given under ICC Statute.