Rome Statute

• March 7, 2022

Russia’s unprovoked military attack on Ukraine meets the definition of “act of aggression,” as defined by the International Criminal Court. The Rome Statute, which is the legal basis of the ICC, states in its Article 8 bis 2 that an “act of aggression means the use of armed force by a State against the …

WORLDVIEWS

2 Comments

South African Decision to Quit the ICC Draws Critics in Africa and Beyond

Barbara Crossette

• October 24, 2016

South Africa’s announcement on Oct. 21 that it intends to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, which has jurisdiction over war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, has met strong opposition from civil society groups in that country and other African and international human-rights organizations. Africa has played major roles in the independent court, …

Africa, ICC, International Justice

Leave a Comment

Palestinians Sign the International Court Treaty, Hoping to See Israel Tried

Dulcie Leimbach

• January 2, 2015

The Palestinians have deposited copies of the legal instruments to join the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the world’s single permanent judicial body to try war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. If Palestine is accepted as a member of the court, it will be the 123rd state party to do so. Until now, …

ICC, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Security Council, US Foreign Relations

Leave a Comment

New Protocols and Policies Tackle Sexual Violence in War

Dulcie Leimbach

• June 19, 2014

As Sunni Muslim extremists first seized strategic cities in Iraq last week, and a United Nations spokesman for the human-rights high commissioner, Navi Pillay, said that rapes had been part of the mayhem, leaving four female victims dead from suicide, the first global conference to end such heinous crimes took place in London. There, …

Child Soldiers, Gender Violence, ICC, International Justice, Women

Leave a Comment

The International Criminal Court Fends Off ‘Ferocious’ Attack, Prosecutor Says

Alice Speri

• September 28, 2013

The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor – Fatou Bensouda – was busy in New York this week, rallying support for the court on the sidelines of the 68th United Nations General Assembly annual debate. The Gambia native, who succeeded Luis Moreno-Ocampo, an Argentine, to head the prosecutor’s office, talked exclusively to PassBlue about her …

Africa, Human Rights, ICC, International Justice, Middle East, Security Council

One Comment

The International Court Judge’s Fight for Justice

Lorraine Boissoneault

• February 21, 2013

The president of the International Criminal Court, Judge Sang-Hyun Song, told a Columbia University audience recently that a major challenge facing the court is what he called a steady lack of political support from the United Nations Security Council and UN member states. “We need a far more consistent and vigilant approach by …

ICC, International Justice, Security Council

3 Comments

US Foes of Disability Treaty Reflect Discomfort With UN

Barbara Crossette

• December 13, 2012

In blocking adoption by the United States of a global convention to protect the disabled, the Republican right signaled on Dec. 4 that it intends to stall or kill all international treaties sent to the Senate for ratification by the Obama administration. Even pleas from a frail and crippled Bob Dole, a former senator, …