Patrick Leahy: “over the past few months the International Criminal Court, ICC, has taken important steps towards becoming an effective…”

“over the past few months the International Criminal Court, ICC, has taken important steps towards becoming an effective forum to hold accountable those accused of war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. By all accounts, the countries participating in these negotiations did an excellent job of selecting qualified jurists and, perhaps most importantly, a responsible and experienced prosecutor. But an important voice is missing from these negotiations. That voice is the United States, a country which was founded on the principles of the rule of law, human rights, and democratic freedoms. Perhaps more than at any other time, the past few months have highlighted the folly of the Bush administration's policy towards the ICC. The whole world wants the United States to be involved with the development of this institution. Yet, instead of seizing this opportunity to shape the Court in our interests, we are one of the only democracies sitting on the sidelines--joined by some of the world's worst human rights offenders. It is an embarrassment, and contrary to the arguments of those who oppose the Court, it is self-defeating. Instead of making sure that the ICC will function the way we want it to, this Administration withdrew our signature from the Rome Treaty and supported legislation, the American Service Members Protection Act, openly hostile to the ICC.”