We are entering the 20th year since the international community adopted the Rome Statute, the founding document of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Not only was the adoption historic in the international legal sphere and in the protection of human rights, it also reflected a global commitment to peace, justice and rule of law.

In the context of ASEAN, the ICC recently opened its first preliminary examination into one country in the region. Earlier in February 2018, ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced that the court had opened preliminary investigations into alleged extrajudicial killings in the Philippines’ anti-drug operations.

As granting victims’ rights in core international crimes is one of the most innovative features of the ICC, this move is an important step forward, although its effectiveness will be a challenge.

Yet, less than a week later, ...