Follow Us:

Rome Statute Tenth Anniversary: Statements and related media coverage

19 July 2008

Dear all,

Please find below press coverage of the 17 July 2008 tenth anniversary of the Rome Statute, the treaty that led to the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC) including speeches and statements, news articles and editorials.

To view Rome Statute full-text speeches and declarations made in honour of the tenth anniversary by CICC Members, ICC officials and the UN Secretary-General visit us online http://coalitionfortheicc.org/?mod=rome&lang=en

Due to the high volume of news articles on this topic; please note that this message is not exhaustive.

Please also take note of the Coalition's policy on situations before the ICC (below), which explicitly states that the CICC will not take a position on potential and current situations before the Court or situations under analysis. The Coalition, however, will continue to provide the most up-to-date information about the ICC.

Best regards,

Sasha Tenenbaum
CICC Communications
[email protected]
******


I. CICC MEMBER STATEMENTS AND SPEECHES

i. "In celebration of the International Criminal Justice Day The Egyptian Coalition for the International Criminal Court (ECICC) Appeals the Egyptian Government to ratify the Rome Statute," 17 July 2008 (Link Unavailable).

"Today marks the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court in July 17th 1998, when 120 States participating in the "United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court" adopted the Statute. This court has the power to prosecute and to sue persons who are involved to commit the most series crimes against humanity, crimes of genocide, war crimes and the crime of aggression.

The Egyptian Coalition for the International Criminal Court (ECICC) noted that although the valuable role and efforts made by the Egyptian delegation participated in the Rome conference establishing the court and also despite that the Egyptian government signed on the Statute of the Court on December 26th 2000, the Egyptian government has not ratify the Statute yet.

While the ECICC, celebrates the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Statute of the International Criminal Court, it takes this occasion to appeal to the Egyptian government to ratify the Statute of the Court.

On this occasion also, the ECICC appeals to the Egyptian civil society organizations in order to intensify their efforts to raise the legal awareness on the Court, as an international mechanism that establish the international criminal justice and human rights protection, as well as appealing to these organizations to ratify the Statute of the Court.

Worth mentioning that the number of ratifications so far are107 ones, only three Arab countries have ratified the Statute which are Jordan on April 11th 2002, Djibouti on November 5th 2002 and the Comoros on Aug. 18th 2006 . While the total number of signatories to the Convention are 139 Signatories, including 13 Arab countries that signed on the Statute which are:

Egypt on December 26th 2000, Algeria on December 28th 2000, Morocco on Sept. 8th 2000, Sudan on September 8th 2000, Syria on November 29th 2000, Kuwait on September 8th 2000, the Emirates on November 27th 2000, Bahrain on December 11th 2000, the Sultanate of Oman On December 20th 2000 and Yemen on December 28th 2000.

Countries that have not yet signed on the Convention are 8 Arab countries which are:
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Lebanon, Somalia, Mauritania, Tunisia and Libya."

ii. "ICC in difficulty ten years after the Rome Statute," Amnesty International, 17 July 2008,
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/feature-stories/icc-difficulty-ten-years-after-rome-statute-20080717

"Thursday 17 July marks the tenth anniversary of the Rome Statute, the treaty that led to the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

...Lauded as one of the most ambitious steps by the international community in recent history, the ICC has made significant progress in its investigations. But its work is being obstructed by serious internal and external difficulties.

...Prosecuting cases is the problem. To date, the Court has issued 12 public arrest warrants, with another requested by the Prosecutor on 14 July 2008. Only four people have been arrested and surrendered for trial. The first case has been stayed. The accused may be released on fair trial grounds.

Without its own police force, the Court's ability to prosecute cases depends upon the willingness of states to arrest and surrender those charged.

If a state fails or refuses to arrest and surrender persons to the Court, it was thought that other states and intergovernmental organizations would pressure them to do so. In practice, this is proving ineffective.

In response to the government of Sudan's refusal to arrest and surrender former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Ahmad Harun and Janjaweed leader Ali Kushayb to the Court, the United Nations Security Council issued a Presidential Statement in June 2008 calling for cooperation.

However, Sudan continues to refuse to implement the warrants. Four senior leaders of the Lords Resistance Army accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes in northern Uganda still remain at large.

An obstacle within the ICC emerged in June 2008, before the start of the Court's first trial. The case against Thomas Lubanga Dyilo was stayed by the Trial Chamber to protect the right of the accused to a fair trial.

This was because the Prosecutor was unable to disclose to the defence exculpatory and mitigating evidence that had been provided confidentially by the United Nations and other organizations.

Confidentiality agreements are provided for in the Rome Statute, but only in exceptional circumstances and for the purpose of generating new evidence. A decision has been made to release the accused. Both decisions are the subject of appeals.

The possible collapse of the Court's first case on fair trial grounds is deeply troubling. In particular, victims of the charges will be denied the opportunity to participate in the case.

However, the Trial Chamber's decision to ensure the rights of the accused to have access to all information which could demonstrate their innocence demonstrates the Court's determination to apply the highest standards of justice.

To date, 107 states, over half the international community, have ratified the statute. Many other states, including governments who originally opposed the statute, are in the process of ratifying.

Even the USA, which launched a worldwide campaign against the ICC, has since supported its work at the United Nations Security Council and indicated that it may cooperate with the ICC's future investigations.

Amnesty International is a strong supporter of the Court. The organization lobbied extensively during the drafting of the Rome Statute for a just, fair and effective permanent court.

The long-term success of the Court as a central element of the new system of international justice will depend on its ability to prosecute cases. However, arrest and surrender of suspects is a matter largely outside the ICC's control.

The supporters of the Court, therefore, have a vital role to ensure that cooperation is demanded bilaterally from states and through intergovernmental organizations. Efforts must also be taken to ensure that missions conducted by intergovernmental organizations are mandated to execute arrest warrants.

II. ICC AND UNSG STATEMENTS

i. "Commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute," ICC Press Release, 18 July 2008, http://www.icc-cpi.int/press/pressreleases/409.html

"On 17 July 2008, an event organized by the Permanent Mission of Liechtenstein was held at United Nations Headquarters in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Statements were delivered by, inter alia, H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations; Mr. Philippe Kirsch, President of the International Criminal Court; Mr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court; Dr. Ruth Wijdenbosch, Parliamentarians for Global Action; and Mr. Bill Pace, Convenor of the NGO Coalition for the International Criminal Court.

An award was granted to H.E. Mr. Arthur Robinson, former President of Trinidad and Tobago, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the cause of international justice. A panel discussion was held on the topic "International Criminal Justice ten years after Rome - Prospects for the next decade".

A tenth anniversary event, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands and the Embassy of France, was also held at the Peace Palace, in The Hague, on 3 July 2008. Keynote statements were delivered by, inter alia, Mr. Maxime Verhagen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands; Ms. Rama Yade, French Secretary of State; as well as senior elected officials of the Court. Two panels were held on the topics of "Universality and Cooperation" and "Defense and Victims issues". Madame Simone Veil, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims delivered the closing remarks.

The statements for both events may be found at www.icc-cpi.int , under the section of the Assembly of States Parties, seventh session."

ii. To view speeches by ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo and President of the ICC, Judge Philippe Kirsch, please see http://coalitionfortheicc.org/documents/Luis_Moreno_Ocampo_Commemoration_17_July_2008.pdf and
http://coalitionfortheicc.org/documents/Luis_Moreno_Ocampo_Commemoration_17_July_2008.pdf

iii. To view "Remarks at the commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court," by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, on 17 July 2008, please see http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocus/sgspeeches/statments_full.asp?statID=295

III. GOVERNMENT STATEMENTS

i. "Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union to mark the tenth anniversary of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court," 16 July 2008, http://www.ue2008.fr/PFUE/lang/en/accueil/PFUE-07_2008/PFUE-16.07.2008/pid/5358;jsessionid=FA9955724EB6CC8B790731DD02DF6FAA

1. On 17 July 2008 we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the adoption in Rome of the Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Nowadays the obligation to put an end to impunity for the most serious crimes, which shock the conscience of humanity, is ever more widely accepted within the international community. Over a hundred States have specifically committed themselves to helping, within the framework of the Rome Statute, to prevent and crack down on such crimes. Accountability to victims and to the international community as a whole is now a rule of law.

2. The European Union (EU) recalls that the Rome Statute plays a vital part in maintaining peace and strengthening international security, in accordance with the aims and principles of the United Nations Charter.

3. The ICC is a key tool both in combating impunity when the most serious crimes, striking at the very essence of humanity, are committed and in preventing and deterring the use of violence.

4. The ICC is now able to perform the task for which it was set up: 107 States party to the Rome Statute, four situations referred to the Court, and some of them already having given rise to judicial proceedings, are significant achievements for a young court. The Court has made substantial progress in conducting its investigations since the Rome Statute came into force in 2002 and is currently dealing with procedural issues of the utmost importance for its future operation.

5. The EU and its Member States remain committed to promoting the universality of the Rome Statute and protecting its integrity. We call on all non party States to join in the celebration of the ICC's tenth anniversary by ratifying the Rome Statute as soon as possible.

6. Effective cooperation with the ICC is crucial if the Court is to fulfil its role. The ICC's efforts must be underpinned by strong political and diplomatic support from all States so that it can obtain all the cooperation it needs to function efficiently, and so that those wanted on arrest warrants will be handed over and justice will be done. The EU undertakes to do everything in its power to support the Court and to help ensure that all arrest warrants are swiftly enforced.

7. Cooperation with the ICC also requires States to have judicial systems such that in the first place they can prosecute and try those who have committed the most serious crimes within their territories. The ICC is one component of an international criminal justice system. The EU firmly believes that putting the principle of complementarity into practice is a necessary condition for achievement of the ICC's aims.

8. The EU and its Member States are particularly concerned about the victims of the most serious crimes and welcome the work carried out by the ICC and its affiliated Trust Fund for Victims, and by all of the NGOs involved in providing aid and assistance for victims.

9. The EU remains convinced that peace and justice are not contradictory aims. On the contrary, in our view, lasting peace cannot be achieved without a suitable response to calls for individuals to be held accountable for the most serious international crimes. Peace and justice are both necessary components of one single solution. In accordance with the guiding principles on impunity, as within the framework of the United Nations, there can be no amnesty for the most serious crimes.

10. The EU will continue to use all means available to it to promote the ICC in its policies and the principles of international criminal justice. It will accordingly bring the ICC into its policies, particularly in development, conflict prevention, justice, freedom and security.

ii. "Statement by Federal Councilor Micheline Calmy-Rey, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland," http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/recent/media/single.html?id=20203

iii. "Statement by the UK Foreign Secretary on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute," 17 July 2008, http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=374439&NewsAreaID=2

III. NEWS COVERAGE

i. "International Criminal Court is a legal milestone, Ban says on anniversary," UN News Centre, 17 July 2008, http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=27405&Cr=icc&Cr1

"The creation of the International Criminal Court represents one of the biggest milestones of international law, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today as he marked the tenth anniversary of the ICC's founding.

In a statement at a ceremony in New York for the anniversary, Mr. Ban also said the UN and the ICC fully complemented each other's work.

'The creation of the ICC is unquestionably one of the major achievements of international law during the past century. But this young court remains a work in progress; a fragile part of a crucial and ongoing effort to entrench international law and justice,' he added.

...In strengthening the court, the correct balance between the duty of justice and the pursuit of peace must also be struck, Mr. Ban stressed.

'Impunity for crimes can never be tolerated; amnesties for international crimes are unacceptable. When confronted with these dilemmas, we must never sacrifice justice; crucially, the search for a balance between justice and peace should never be influenced by the threats and postures of those seeking to escape justice.'

Mr. Ban went on to outline what he saw as some of the challenges confronting the Court, and called for additional steps towards achieving even greater universality for the cases taken up by the ICC.

'This growing universality naturally calls for geographic diversity in the investigations and other activities undertaken by the Court. Such steps could help counter any perception of exclusivity, even if it is dictated by circumstances,' he said, adding that the Court had to continue to demonstrate its total independence, while the entire international community had to learn to respect its decisions.

The Secretary-General also hailed the contribution of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in creating the Court and asked for their continued engagement to help the ICC evolve and advance.

...Opening the commemoration of the anniversary in New York, Bruno Stagno Ugarte, Foreign Minister of Costa Rica and current President of the Assembly of States Parties of the ICC, paid tribute to all those who had supported the Court's creation.

'The more than 100 States Parties gathered here today have committed not to become inured to horror, not to take part in the distribution of blame for events past and not to seek absolution in the 'never agains' the international community has usually withdrawn to whenever it has allowed evil to run its course,' he said.

Also addressing the meeting, ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said that all nations had to operate in accordance with the law. "Because the law is not just for the courtroom - the law expresses what is right and what is wrong for the community - and in this case for a global community. Ten years ago more than 100 States decided that ending impunity is the right answer to prevent the most serious crimes," he said.

At the same event, Ruth Wijdenbosch, President of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee of Suriname, described how her country had become the latest country to accede to the Rome Statute of the ICC, bringing the total number of States Parties to 107."

ii. "Press Conference on Tenth Anniversary of Rome Statute of ICC," UN Department of Public Information, 17 July 2008, http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2008/080717_ICC.doc.htm

"The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court this morning defended his decision on Monday to indict Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, despite the Sudanese Parliament's strong objection that the move would endanger vital peace negotiations in Sudan, especially in Darfur.

'My responsibility is judicial. I have no political responsibility,' Luis Moreno-Ocampo told a Headquarters news conference this morning organized to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Court. 'My responsibility is to mitigate cases and to present evidence to the judges. That is what I am doing.'

Stressing the right of victims to the truth, Mr. Moreno-Ocampo said he had informed the Security Council in December that he was moving forward with his case against Mr. al-Bashir and had also informed them in June that he would present the case in July prior to the Court's recess, scheduled to begin 18 July. 'I did it when I had my evidence ready and my evidence will be analysed by the judges.'

...If Sudan's Government did not comply with the Court judges' warrant for Mr. al-Bashir's arrest, neighbouring States and regional organizations should work to bring justice to Sudan's victims of genocide and rape, he said. 'There are 2.7 million people who could die. The African Union and the Arab League can do a lot to support and help them,' he said, lauding the fact that the two organizations were to meet on the subject in the next few days.

...According to Christian Wenaweser, current President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Court, who also addressed reporters, the Court could not try Mr. al-Bashir in absentia, nor could it legally sanction non-party States for not turning him in. However, their failure to hand him over did violate the Court's founding 1998 Rome Statute.

...Another correspondent asked Mr. Moreno-Ocampo to comment on the meetings in progress between Chinese and African officials that aimed to sway the Security Council to defer Mr. al-Bashir's prosecution for one year. Mr. Ocampo declined to comment. Bruno Stagno, the incoming President of the Assembly of States Parties to the International Criminal Court, also addressing reporters, said the issue would have to be presented to the Council under Article 16 of the Rome Statute and that the Council would need to vote on it.

...In an opening statement to reporters, Mr. Stagno said that, since the Court had been established 10 years ago, its many critics had moderated their tone and manifested a certain willingness to be pragmatic and realistic, and to recognize that 'this Court is here to stay.' In a very short time frame, the Court had been able to institutionalize itself and begin its work in earnest..."

iii. "Tough talk as ICC celebrates anniversary", by Thijs Bouwknegt and Perro de Jong (Radio Netherlands Worldwide), 14 July 2008, http://www.rnw.nl/internationaljustice/icc/080711-icc-anniversary-mc

"The International Criminal Court in The Hague (ICC) has now been operating for five years as the world's only permanent court for war crimes. On 17 July it will be 10 years since its founding agreement was reached. Much has been achieved in the interim. But according to a scathing report by Human Rights Watch, we ignore the ICC's shortcomings at our peril.

As the human rights organisation sees it, the greatest obstacle to be overcome is something the ICC itself can do nothing about. The court has prosecutors and judges, but no police force. In order to arrest suspects, it has to depend on the goodwill of the countries in question and that of the United Nations. This spirit of cooperation is often sorely lacking, warns the report...."

iv. "Disputed International Criminal Court Marks 10-Year Anniversary", Deutsche Welle, 17 July 2008, http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3490835,00.html

"As the International Criminal Court seeks an arrest warrant against the president of Sudan, the Rome Statute, the foundation treaty for the ICC, turns ten years old.

It took two years of fierce wrangling, but on July 17, 1998, the Rome Statute was signed, establishing the functions, jurisdiction and structure of the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC), which came into existence four years later.

'Rome should provide a signal that crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression will in the future no longer go unpunished,' said the head of the German delegation in Rome, Gerd Westdickenberg.

The fundamental idea that emerged from the Rome conference was that every country should pass laws that would require even high-ranking politicians and military officials to answer charges of human rights abuses before a court.

'We're a backup system,' said the ICC's lead prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo. 'We're not a Supreme Court of the World.'

Several countries have since passed laws that allow war crimes, even genocide, to be prosecuted in national courts. Germany passed its own legislation in 2002 that regulated crimes against public international law to bring its own laws into accordance with the Rome Statue. Indirectly, it prevents German citizens from being taken in front of the ICC.

...Bush has shown no interest in following Germany's example and passing laws that would make war crimes a punishable offense. Instead, he has tried to weaken the ICC by establishing non-extradition agreements with individual nations regarding American citizens.

Those are linked with threats to withhold military aid for the land if such deals are not made. He has had some success with this strategy.
In the meantime, the row over the ICC between critics of the Rome Statute, such as Washington, and its biggest proponents, who are mostly in Europe, has gotten quieter. That has something to do with the fact that the court is busy for now with cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, the Central African Republic and Darfur.

'I had to choose the cases according to gravity. And the gravest cases happened in Africa,' said prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo.

But as the ICC continues its work to bring those who commit grave human rights abuses to justice, New York-based political analyst Jeff Laurenti believes it is gaining credibility around the globe, despite the vocal critics.

'The court will be proving itself despite the Bush administration's knee-jerk hostility,' he said. 'That creates the opportunity to demonstrate that the paranoia about the ICC that has been propagated by the right wing is unjustified and misplaced.'

A change in Washington's attitude could be developing. When the UN Security Council referred the case of Darfur and Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir to the Hague, the US could have vetoed the move, but didn't. Instead, it just stayed silent."

v. "Drum beat on the anniversary" ("Paukenschlag zum Jubiläum"), by Karen Kleinwort (Die Welt), 17 July 2008, http://www.welt.de/welt_print/article2222878/Paukenschlag_zum_Jubilaeum.html

"Ten years after the signing of the founding treaty for the International Criminal Court, a seating President shall for the first time be held accountable in The Hague.

It was by far the largest media gathering that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has experienced in its six-year life. The white office building on the outskirts of The Hague was surrounded by TV news vans, at the press conference there wasn't a single empty seat, and the Chief Prosecutor gave interviews for a quarter of an hour. On Monday, Luis Moreno-Ocampo called for the arrest warrant against current Sudanese president Omar al-Baschir on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur. Ten years after the adoption of the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the first permanent world criminal court, the ICC celebrates two firsts: it requested for the first time an arrest warrant for an acting head of State and has also for the first time made an allegation of genocide.

In Rome on 17 July 1998, the representatives from 120 nations wrote their signatures under the founding statutes. 'In retrospect, we had a window of opportunity to establish this Court between the end of the Cold War and September 11th,' says John Washburn, the US representative at the conference [sic]. The main drive was the guilt of the international community, which did nothing to prevent the genocides in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. Even optimistic experts believed that it would take between 10 and 20 years to achieve the 60 ratifications required to create the ICC. But everyone was surprised when it happened in fact in 2002 - almost all European and Latin American countries, as well as many African countries are now among the 106 States Parties. In spring 2003 the Chief Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo, from Argentina, took his elected office, together with the first 18 judges, headed by ICC President Philippe Kirsch, a Canadian.

The United States, Russia and China have remained outside the Rome Statute thus far. In 1998, the United States were responsible for one of the seven 'no' votes - the Americans do not want their soldiers brought to international trial. One of the main pillars of the ICC is the principle of complementarity: The international court may only act if the national legal systems are either unable or unwilling to try the alleged perpetrators. The attitude of the United States has in recent years changed, however, from one of total rejection to a significant improvement of support. In March 2005, Washington helped the ICC to its knighthood: The UN Security Council instructed Chief Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo on the investigation of the Darfur conflict in western Sudan - without the United States exercising its veto power. Today the ICC is also either investigating or litigating against crimes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and the Central African Republic. Suspected war criminals such as Joseph Kony, who is accused of unimaginably horrible crimes in northern Uganda, and Jean-Pierre Bemba, the former Congolese vice-president, are set firmly within the sights of the ICC.

Long-term observers give the organisation, which now more than 600 employees and a budget of 90 million euros, warm praise. 'The ICC has achieved a great deal,' says Geraldine Mattioli of Human Rights Watch. So far there have been four official investigations into conflicts, none of which quite resolved so far; twelve arrest warrants issued against suspected war criminals, four of whom have already been arrested; as well as a well-functioning witness protection programme. The biggest handicap for the Court still remains though: that it does not have its own police force and the arrests of suspects therefore depend on the assistance of its member states and international NGOs. 'The enforcement of arrest warrants is our greatest challenge. Without arrests, we can not operate,' says ICC President Kirsch.

However, there is an even greater test before the ICC - and it just so happens to fall on its ten year anniversary, during its first proceedings. The Prosecution in the case of Thomas Lubanga, who is alleged to have recruited and deployed child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, got incriminating evidence from the UN under the condition that it be kept confidential, in order to protect the parties involved. The Defence submitted that without access to the documents a fair trial was impossible, and requested that Lubanga be released immediately. Although he still sits in his cell in The Hague, the Court must soon decide on his release. 'The international legal system has disappointed the victims,' says Luc Walleyn, representing Lubanga's victims. 'With this decision, international criminal law finds itself at a crossroads.'

NB: Please note this is an unofficial translations provided by the CICC Secretariat as a service to our members, and should not be used for quoting in any official documents.

vi. "ICC Honor for Former T&T President," Caribbean World News,
18 July 2008, http://www.caribbeanworldnews.com/middle_top_news_detail.php?mid=1094

"Former Primer Minister and President of Trinidad & Tobago, Arthur Robinson, was yesterday honored at the U.N. for his ` outstanding contribution to the cause of international justice.` Robinson was presented the honor at the tenth anniversary of the creation of the International Criminal Court, which was celebrated at the UN on Thursday....Robinson was presented with the award by Ben Ferencz of the ICC."

See also:

1. "International Criminal Court faces biggest decision yet", Euronews, 15 July 2008, http://www.euronews.net/en/article/15/07/2008/international-criminal-court-faces-biggest-decision-yet/

2. "Ten Years of the International Criminal Court: The Slow but Sure Growth of World Law," Newropeans Magazine, 17 July 2008, http://www.newropeans-magazine.org/content/view/8361/85/

3. "Rights groups mark International Justice Day,"Afrique Enligne, 17 July 2008,
http://www.afriquenligne.fr/rights-groups-mark-international-justice-day-200807189110.html

4. "Diez años de la Corte Penal Internacional"
por Lorena Fries, (Blog.humanas), 17 July 2008, http://www.humanas.cl/blog/?p=37

5. "Diez años de la Corte Penal Internacional: Un embrión de Justicia universal" ROBERTO MONTOYA, El Mundo.es, 17/07/2008, http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/07/17/internacional/1216261220.html

6. "La UE pide apoyo para la CPI en décimo aniversario de su institución", Terra, 16 July 2008, http://actualidad.terra.es/nacional/articulo/ue-cpi-apoyo-decimo-aniversario-2625126.htm

7. "Corte Penal Internacional sale del caparazón", Por Irene de Vette (IPS), 15 July 2008, http://www.ipsnoticias.net/nota.asp?idnews=89098

8. "Una década de justicia universal", DANIEL FLORES MADRID. Tv España 16.07.2008, http://www.rtve.es/noticias/20080716/una-decada-justicia-universal/116232.shtml

IV. EDITORIALS

i. "The US and the International Criminal Court then and now," Op-ed by David Scheffer in JURIST, 16 July 2008 (Heavily excerpted), http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/forumy/2008/07/us-and-international-criminal-court.php

"One decade ago, on July 17th, 1998, I sat in a crowded room in Rome with diplomats from 148 other nations knowing that I failed my country and the world. As head of the United States delegation to the talks creating the International Criminal Court, I rejected the final text of the treaty for the court. Since then, 106 countries, including almost all of our allies, have joined the court while Washington remains outside it...."

ii. "World Day for International Justice", OP-ed, Manila Bulletin online, 17 July 2008, http://www.mb.com.ph/OPED20080717129986.html

"To provide awareness among peoples of the world that justice is to be rendered to all people irrespective of status, gender, and faith, World Day for International Justice is celebrated on July 17 of each year.

The event recognizes the evolving system of international justice that has emerged to provide new tools of accountability for the most serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. World Day for International Justice also calls upon all states to fully support the International Criminal Court (ICC) and to honor their international obligations to prosecute alleged perpetrators of torture and other human rights violations....

...In some parts of the world, international justice is in a state of crisis. Many people are denied their basic human rights, leaving them no option but to accept the deprivation they suffer. This despite nearly half of the world ratifying the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, the first permanent international tribunal capable of trying individuals accused of genocide, torture, crimes against humanity and war crimes. This new system of international criminal justice represents a great victory for the protection of universal rights, the advancement of human security, and the progress of national legal systems. Since its adoption in 1998, the ICC has provided the mechanism to save lives, deter conflicts, and diminish war in the 21st century...."

iii. Master diplomacy for a powerful court"(Meesterlijke diplomatie voor een krachtig hof), by Rob Vreeken, De Volkstrant, 14 July 2008, http://www.volkskrant.nl/buitenland/article1042895.ece/Meesterlijke_diplomatie_voor_een_krachtig_hof

'I am convinced', Anthony Lewis wrote in The New York Times of 19 July 1998, 'that once it will be considered a turning point in history.'

'It' referred to the difficult birth, two days earlier in Rome, of the statute of the ICC. A large majority of states had agreed there, after five weeks of diplomatic challenges, about establishing a world tribunal for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in The Hague.

The American columnist did not exactly express the feelings of his government, headed by President Bill Clinton at that time. The Americans had managed to transform themselves in the final stage of the nerve wrecking negotiations from well intentioned supporters of the International Criminal Court into vivid opponents. Many other countries had just overcome their reservations and on Friday night 17 July, at the large meeting room of the UN organization FAO, had voted in favour of the document that would become known as the Rome Statute. 120 countries voted in favour, 21 refrained from voting and seven voted against the text.

How has the ICC fared since? Meanwhile the Americans seem to realize that the ICC is not primarily targeting them. Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has opened four investigations, all of them in Africa (Northern Uganda, Congo, Darfur, Chad [sic]). Twelve arrest warrants have been issued. Four of the accused have been arrested, two have died. But the first case is yet to start, ten years after the birth of the statute, and it does not make a strong impression. The credibility of the ICC seems to be at stake.

However, it must be noted that the court is not really ten years old. The statute only came into force on 1 July 2002 (when 60 countries had ratified it), and it would take another year before the judges and the prosecutor had been appointed. Ocampo had to start from scratch - arrange internet connection, hire a secretary, get chairs from IKEA. In that light, and given the level of accuracy expected from the world's tribunal for 'crimes that deeply shock the conscience of humanity' four persons in custody might not be such a bad result.

NB: Please note this is an unofficial translations provided by the CICC Secretariat as a service to our members, and should not be used for quoting in any official documents.

See also:

"El difícil arranque del tribunal que lucha contra la impunidad", ISABEL COELLO (Publico.es), - 16/07/2008, http://www.publico.es/internacional/135038/tpi/darfur/estatuto/congo/uganda/impunidad

*****************

CICC's policy on the referral and prosecution of situations before the
ICC:

The Coalition for the ICC is not an organ of the court. The CICC is an
independent NGO movement dedicated to the establishment of the
International Criminal Court as a fair, effective, and independent
international organization.

The Coalition will continue to provide the most up-to-date information
about the ICC and to help coordinate global action to effectively
implement the Rome Statute of the ICC. The Coalition will also endeavor to respond to basic queries and to raise awareness about the ICC's trigger mechanisms and procedures, as they develop. The Coalition as a whole, and its secretariat, do not endorse or promote specific investigations or prosecutions or take a position on situations before the ICC. However, individual CICC members may endorse referrals, provide legal and other support on investigations, or develop partnerships with local and other organizations in the course of their efforts.

Communications to the ICC can be sent to:

ICC
P.O. box 19519
2500 CM the Hague
The Netherlands