Peace and Justice discussions: International Crimes Court awareness

Peace and Justice discussions: International Crimes Court awareness

by Megan Blank
The Goshen College Record
March 29, 2006

Continuing to raise awareness of United States and global issues, about 25 students, teachers and community members attended a Town Hall meeting on Sunday to discuss the future of U.S. involvement in the International Crimes Court.

The meeting, "Darfur and Beyond: The Role of the International Crimes Court,'' was hosted by PAX, along with the Goshen College chapter of the Americans for an Informed Democracy.

John Clark, a senior fellow at the Sagamore Institute for Policy Research, and Dan Thomann, the convener of the Chicago Alliance for the ICC, led discussions and shared their perspectives.

The goals of the ICC are to investigate and try individuals accused of crimes condemned by all governments, religions, cultures and peoples. The ICC is independent of the United Nations. Essentially, individuals commit crimes, not states.

Since the trials of Nuremburg and Tokyo after World War II, there have been talk of a permanent international tribunal court to deal with the atrocities committed during war.

In 1998, 120 members of the United Nations adopted the Rome Statute, (named after where it was formed) agreeing to create an independent, judicial international criminal court. It was the first of its kind in the 21st century, and 139 countries have signed the Statute. In 2002 the treaty was put into force, after being ratified by the necessary 60 nation-states.

When joining the ICC, a nation-state agrees to share with the Court its right to investigate and prosecute either individuals who are accused of committing atrocity crimes on its territory or its nationals who are accused of committing such crimes.

The U.S. is not involved with the ICC. During his last days in office, former President Bill Clinton signed the Rome Statute. However, in 2002, the Bush administration sought to nullify the U.S. signature. The current U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, has historically also been opposed to the ICC.

Clark thinks that it might take about 30 years for the United States to ratify the ICC. He said that the current administration is not a fan of multilateral cooperation. Instead it prefers to act without having to answer to other institutions. "The U.S. has many problems right now only it can solve,'' he said. "If the U.S. is not part of the solution, it doesn't want to help.''

Clark also struggles with the tension between peace and justice, ending conflict while making sure the guilty are charged. "By promoting justice, are we getting farther away from peace,'' he said. "Then again, the worst thing the U.S. did in the 1990s in Rwanda was nothing.''

Thomann thinks ratification will occur much sooner, such as 2009, when the ICC has a conference to assess its work. This conference will help get the word out. "The U.S. takes treaties seriously,'' he said. "They like to sign treaties and not ratify them right away.'' Also, the United Nations referred the crimes in Darfur to the Court without any veto from the U.S.

While Thomann cited large American support for involvement in the Courts, Clark questioned Americans' shallow support for the treaty, seeing as most don't really think about it on a daily basis. Thomann replied that educating was key.

When asked what students can do to raise awareness about the issues of the ICC, Thomann said, "Just get the word out. Being here at this meeting, being engaged is great. The majority of people don't know anything about this.'' Clark added, "Stalk your member of Congress.'' For more information about the ICC or Americans for an Informed Democracy, see www.aidemocracy.org.