Claiborne Pell: “I oppose the Helms amendment. In my view, an appropriately structured International Criminal Court is a logical next…”

“I oppose the Helms amendment. In my view, an appropriately structured International Criminal Court is a logical next step in efforts to strengthen international institutions for upholding the norms of civil society. I would note that this amendment expresses the sense of the Congress in support of such a Court, but certainly does mandate its establishment. If such a Court were established, Senate advice and consent would be required before the United States could participate. This guarantees the Senate the opportunity to review and accept or reject U.S. participation in the Court based on the particulars of the agreement establishing the Court. The tragedy unfolding in the former Yugoslavia; the deliberate, genocidal policies carried out against the Kurds; and the countless other instances where governments, or so-called liberation movements, have committed gross violations of human rights, point to the need for the establishment of a permanent forum in which these crimes can be adjudicated and criminals brought to justice. Would such a Court guarantee that such abuses do not happen? Of course not. But it would be a deterrent and it would be a start toward bringing to justice those individuals who are responsible for the crimes we have seen all too frequently. Mr. President, the Court could also prove valuable in instances where governments are reluctant, or forbidden by their own law, to extradite their citizens to another country.”