| International Criminal Court is born July 1; Canada led global drive for ICC News Release, June 27, 2002 |
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| The International Criminal Court (ICC), a success for Canadian diplomacy, will be born July 1. Canada has been a leader in the drive to create the court, which is being hailed as the one of the greatest advances in international law since the founding of the United Nations. The ICC, based in The Hague, Netherlands, is a permanent institution to conduct trials of individuals accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Despite strong U.S. objections, no country did more than Canada to create the court,” said Fergus Watt, Executive Director, World Federalists of Canada. The ICC is a momentous leap forward for international law and justice,” Mr. Watt said. “No longer can an Adolf Hitler, Augusto Pinochet or Pol Pot commit atrocities with impunity. Now there is a permanent court that will try individuals for the worst violations of international humanitarian law. ICC will help protect civilians around the world. It eventually can be an important tool in combating terrorism.” The ICC differs from other international tribunals, such as the International Court of Justice, in that it tries individuals, rather than states. It differs from the ad hoc tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, because it is permanent and its geographic reach is global. The court, established by international treaty, will take up to a year to become operational. In the coming months, a forum of the ratifying countries will establish rules for the court, and nominate and elect judges and prosecutors. Canada has not yet selected its nominee for judge but has several strong candidates, and is favoured to supply one of the founding magistrates. Contact: Fergus Watt, (613) 232-0647 World Federalists of Canada Coordinator, Canadian NGO Network for the ICC www.iccCanada.org |
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