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MAINE ALLIANCE for the INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT |
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MAICC PO Box 397 Waldoboro, ME 04572 thesil@midcoast.com |
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MAINE ALLIANCE for the INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT |
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MAICC PO Box 397 Waldoboro, ME 04572 thesil@midcoast.com |
| So the world is moving to end impunity for individuals who commit internationally recognized crimes against humanity, war crimes or genocide. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an essential part of an evolving system of international justice. It is committed to holding perpetrators accountable for the world's most terrible atrocities and deterring others. It may investigate and prosecute if the crime occurs in a country that accepts its jurisdiction or is committed by a citizen of that country, or if the UN Security Council refers the case. The court may act only if the nation having jurisdiction over the offender is genuinely unwilling or unable to prosecute. The International Criminal Court is underway in The Hague, with a distinguished panel of judges and a respected prosecutor.
The United States Government took part in drafting the ICC Statute, signed it on 31 December 2000, but "unsigned" it in May 2002 and campaigned against it during the previous administration. Starting in July 2009, the US ended an eight-year absence from the Court by attending meetings of the Assembly of States Parties (the governing body of the ICC) and the Review Conference of the ICC in Kampala, Uganda (2010). A week before the conference, President Obama endorsed the ICC in his National Security Strategy. At the Review Conference, the US made many statements in support of the role of the ICC. MAICC is proud to be part of a growing movement for full US participation in the International Criminal Court. |