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Guest Commentary April 13, 2002
Permanent International Criminal Court Is In Our Interests
The Honorable Patrick Kennedy
Since coming to Congress I have been highly supportive of an International Criminal Court, and I strongly believe in its principal, that human rights abusers who commit crimes against humanity or genocide should be brought to justice.
Several years ago, I visited the Hague, and was deeply moved by the intense law enforcement and criminal justice efforts there to bring abusers to justice. A permanent international criminal court which can bring future perpetrators of war crimes to full and complete justice is in our national interests.
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Support for the International Criminal Court is nearly universal among our allies, among those ratifying the Rome Treaty are our closest friends in the war against terrorism, such as the United Kingdom. The European Union has a common position supporting the court and the list of ratifying countries includes so many of our closest allies that many commentators have referred to the ICC as the Court of the Democracies.
I feel strongly that if we are not to ratify the Rome Treaty at this time, at a minimum, adopt a policy of constructive engagement with the Court. We must be engaged to ensure that we use our Security Council referral power in a responsible manner to both deter war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide to ensure that those who commit such crimes are brought to justice.
As leaders of the free world, we must recognize that the only way to achieve a court that we can live with, is to stay engaged in the continuing negotiations over the scope, purpose, and construction of it.
Patrick Kennedy, a Democrat, represents the 1st Congressional District of Rhode Island in the U.S. House of Representatives. The above commentary has been adapted from a speech Rep. Kennedy delivered on the floor of the House, March 10, 2002. To contact him, Click Here.
The above column has been distributed by PoliticsOL.com.
