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The Integrity of the Rome Statute must be Protected

Rights & Democracy is deeply concerned with proposed changes to a Security Council resolution by the United States and the United Kingdom that would exempt UN peacekeepers from the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.

NEW YORK - 3 JULY 2002 – Rights & Democracy is deeply concerned with proposed changes to a Security Council resolution by the United States and the United Kingdom that would exempt UN peacekeepers from the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.

"These proposals will gravely undermine the effectiveness and integrity of the Rome Statute and the entire treaty-making process of the UN, as well as the credibility and legitimacy of the Security Council," said Antonio Jose Almeida who is representing Rights & Democracy at the 10th ICC Preparatory Commission in New York. "These proposals represent an affront to international law and are inconsistent with the spirit and letter of the Rome Statute."

Rights & Democracy calls for the rejection of these proposals that weaken the purposes for which the ICC was created.

A Security Council resolution legitimizing blanket immunity for the worst possible crimes under international law would be a regressive step in the efforts by the world community to combat impunity. It would send an unacceptable message that peacekeepers are above the law. International peace and security and international justice are now permanently linked.

In a special meeting of the ICC Preparatory Commission earlier today, States indicated their concerns with developments at the UN Security Council and strongly reaffirmed their commitment to international law and the integrity of the Rome Statute. They called upon all members of the UN Security Council to reject these latest proposals and settle this matter in ways that would respect international law and protect the integrity of the Rome Statute.

The future of the ICC as an independent and effective institution is under attack. The new proposals undermine not only the Rome Statute, but also UN treaty-making principles, peacekeeping operations, and the international rule of law. Rights & Democracy is a member of the Steering Committee of the International NGO Coalition for an International Criminal Court and a partner of the ICC Technical Assistance Programme (ICC-TAP).