•  Home
•  Who We Are
•  What We Do
•  Media Centre
•  Publications
•  Humphrey Award
•  Reference
•  Links
•  Contact Us

US Undermining International Campaign Against Impunity

Rights & Democracy today criticized the Bush administration's decision to effectively withdraw the US signature from the Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court.

Montreal, May 7, 2002 - Rights & Democracy today criticized the Bush administration's decision to effectively withdraw the US signature from the Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court (ICC) and called on the US government to remain engaged. The treaty, signed on December 31, 2000, will create the first permanent, independent tribunal capable of trying individuals for crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide.

"Revoking support for the ICC treaty is an unprecedented act in the legal history of the US and in the annals of modern international law. No US president has in its 225 year history unsigned an international treaty," said Warren Allmand, President of Rights & Democracy. The US decision sends a contradictory signal: Since September 11, it has been leading a global effort against the perpetrators of a massive crime that targeted innocent lives but with this decision "the US is undermining its efforts to promote human rights and end impunity at the worst possible time," Mr. Allmand said.

Opponents of the ICC fear that American troops serving in countries that have ratified the treaty might be arrested on false charges and sent to the Hague for trial. Nonetheless, the ICC contains more safeguards against such prosecutions than any other international court. The ICC will act only as a court of last resort, taking cases when countries are unable or unwilling to prosecute the cases before their own courts.

The American withdrawal from the ICC treaty will have no technical impact on the Court, whose statute still enters into force on July 1, 2002. One hundred and thirty-eight states have signed the treaty and 66 countries have ratified it. Every major US ally, including all NATO members (except Turkey), support the new Court.

"Far from damaging the ICC, this move will only further isolate the US from friends and allies committed to the rule of law and the promotion of human rights," Warren Allmand said. "The best way for the US to promote its interests and ensure all due protections for its citizens is by preserving a relationship with the Court and working to influence its culture."