International Criminal Court Faces New Trials

October 24 is U.N. Day.

On July 1, 2002, the Rome Statue of the International Criminal Court (ICC) entered into force, creating the first permanent and independent court capable of investigating the most serious violations of international humanitarian law, such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

The statute was adopted in July 1998, with 120 nations voting in favor and 21 abstaining. U.S. President Clinton signed on to the ICC in the last days of his term in office. In May 2002, the Bush administration withdrew the U.S. signature, and that August President Bush signed into law the American Service Members' Protection Act of 2002. The new law prohibits cooperation with the ICC and authorizes the use of military force to liberate any American or citizen of a U.S.-allied country being held by the court.

Source:

International Criminal Court Starts Work, Vital Signs 2003, pp. 116-117.

Worldwatch Links:

Vital Signs Fact of the Week Archive
Vital Signs 2003 press release
Take action: Vital Signs 2003, What You Can Do
More research from Worldwatch

Additional Resources:

Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court: www.un.org/law/icc/