10May12

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Letter from civil organizations rejecting the criminal offense of Crime of Aggression and endorsing DOS's position

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Dear Foreign Minister,

Attached is a letter from more than 40 civil society organizations, international and national, urging you to consider postponing the codification of the crime of aggression in the Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court beyond the upcoming Review Conference in Kampala in June.

The issues surrounding ICC jurisdiction over the crime of aggression are complex. The current amendment proposal risks politicizing and overburdening the ICC, and undermining the integrity of the Rome Statute. There still exists substantial disagreement on key aspects of the proposed crime. Rushing to a vote in Kampala risks undermining the cohesiveness of states parties that has been so essential to the Court's establishment and mission. Taking more time to strengthen the Court, to consider this matter further, and to achieve broader agreement on the outstanding issues will benefit the ICC in the long-term. We encourage states to continue discussions beyond Kampala.

We thank you for your consideration of this letter.

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May 10, 2010
Dear Foreign Minister
Re: Aggression and the International Criminal Court

We are leaders of organizations dedicated to ensuring that the International Criminal Court succeeds in its mission to fight impunity for the most serious international crimes. We believe that adoption of the Rome Statute was an historic achievement. It is vital that the upcoming Kampala Review Conference reinforce that achievement and promote the effective functioning of the Court. As strong supporters of the Court, we are concerned about codifying the crime of aggression in Kampala.

The issues surrounding ICC jurisdiction over the crime of aggression are complex and are ones on which Court supporters can and do reasonably disagree. Many states have undertaken extended discussions in an attempt to forge consensus around this crime. Nonetheless, the current amendment proposal risks politicizing and overburdening the ICC, and undermining the integrity of the Rome Statute.

For both practical and principled reasons, we believe that this early stage in the court's evolution is not the time to add aggression to the Court's docket.

First, aggression - a crime based on acts committed against a state - raises fundamentally political considerations about a state's initial decision to resort to the use of force. The ICC's other three crimes - war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide -- are violations against individuals for which legal remedies have long been available and clearly defined in international customary laws and treaties. For obvious reasons, the ICC strives to present itself as an effective judicial body that is independent of political concerns. Amending the Rome Statute now to grant the Court jurisdiction over aggression will exacerbate the challenges the ICC already faces in fending off attacks about its perceived politicization.

Second, asking the ICC to take on another category of crime at present risks overburdening the Court when it is still striving to prosecute and try those responsible for current crimes. Much work is needed to further improve the operation of the Rome Statute system in respect of cooperation, complementarity, the impact on victims and affected communities, and questions of peace and justice. Each of these issues requires dedicated attention at Kampala. Prudently declining to adopt an amendment on aggression at this time, when the Court has such urgent challenges to tackle, is the most effective way to strengthen an institution that is central to combating impunity, and ensuring accountability, for the most heinous international crimes.

Finally, notwithstanding several years of debate, there still exists substantial disagreement among states parties to the Rome Statute on key aspects of the proposed crime of aggression. As recently as the third week of March, a meeting of the Assembly of States Parties in New York revealed stark divisions. Given the wide range of perspectives which currently exist on the aggression amendment, pushing it to a vote in Kampala risks undermining the cohesiveness of states parties that has been so essential to the Court's establishment and mission.

The Kampala Review Conference is not the last opportunity to address the crime of aggression. Under Article 121 of the Rome Statute, an amendment can be considered at any time in the future by the Assembly of States Parties directly or by another Review Conference. Taking more time to strengthen the Court, to consider this matter further, and to achieve broader agreement on the outstanding issues will benefit the ICC in the long-term. We encourage states to continue discussions beyond Kampala.

Sincerely,

Aryeh Neier
President
Open Society Institute

Fernando Peláez-Pier
President
International Bar
Association

Anton du Plessis
Head, International Crime in Africa Programme
Institute for Security
Studies

Michael L. Davis
Executive Director
Universal Human Rights Network
USA

Adetokunbo Mumuni
Executive Director
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)
Nigeria

Daniel Ehighalua
Secretary
Nigerian Coalition on the International Criminal Court (NCICC)
Nigeria

Delly Mawazo Sesete
Executive Director
Centre de Recherche sur l'Environnement, la Démocratie et les droits de l'homme(CREDDHO)
Democratic Republic of the Congo

Richard Shilamba
Executive Director
Children Education Society (CHESO) - Tanzania
Tanzania

Gilbert Angwandi
Coordinator
Association pour la promotion de la dignité des victimes (APRODIVI)
Democratic Republic of the Congo

James Mwamu
Secretary General
East African Law Society
Kenya

Justine Masika Bihamba
Coordinator
Synergy of Women against Sexual Violence (SFVS)
Democratic Republic of the Congo

Joseph Chilengi
Executive Director
Africa Internally Displaced Persons Voice (Africa IDP Voice)
Zambia

Missak Kasongo
Président du Conseil d'Administration
SECURITAS CONGO
Democratic Republic of the Congo

Nicole Fritz
Executive Director
Southern Africa Litigation Centre
South Africa

Patrick Kikandi Mulemeri
Directeur Général Adjoint
Action Sociale pour la Paix et le Développement (ASPD) Nord Kivu
Democratic Republic of the Congo

Bruce Knotts
Executive Director
Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office
USA

George Kegoro
Executive Director
The Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists
Kenya

Ali Ouattara
President
Coalition Ivoirienne pour la CPI
Côte d'Ivoire

Osman Hummaida
Executive Director
African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies
Sudan

Prudent Mpama
Secretary General
Association des armateurs sur le Lac-Kivu (L'ASSALAK)
Democratic Republic of the Congo

Emeka Umeagbalasi
Chairman, Board of Trustees
International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law
Nigeria

Jean Pascal Mugaruka
Coordonnateur Provincial du COJESKI/NK et chargé de programmes du
REPRODHOC/NK/RENADHOC
Democratic Republic of the Congo

Zenga Nkoranyi Namulundi
President
Cite des Droits de l'Homme et de Paix (CIDHOP)
Democratic Republic of the Congo

Edward Ladu Terso
Managing Editor
Multi Media Training Center (MMTC)
Southern Sudan

Georges Kapiamba
Vice-Président National
L'Association Africaine de Défense des Droits de l'Homme (ASADHO)
Democratic Republic of the Congo

Edwin Usang
Program Officer
Coalition of Eastern NGOs
Nigeria

Irène Esambo Diata
Présidente
Centre d'études sur la Justice et la Résolution 1325 (CJR/1325)
Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mwenebatende Dufina Tabu
Président
Association des Volontaires du Congo (ASVOCO-Fondation Dufina)
Democratic Republic of the Congo

Rafendi Djamin
Executive Director
Indonesia's NGO Coalition for International Human Rights Advocacy (HRWG)
Indonesia

Francisco Soberón Garrido
Director Ejecutivo
Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos
Peru

Norman Tjombe
Norman Tjombe Law Firm
Namibia

Ndung'u Wainaina
Executive Director
International Center for Policy and Conflict
Kenya

Gabriel Shumba
Executive Director
Zimbabwe Exiles Forum
South Africa

Karla Micheel Salas Ramírez,
Secretary of International Law
Asociación Nacional de Abogados Democráticos
Mexico

Leymah Gbowee
Executive Director
Women Peace and Security Network Africa (WIPSEN-Africa)
Ghana

A. Saydee Monboe, II
Executive Director
Center for Trauma Counseling and Conflict Resolution (CETCCOR)
Liberia

Iheoma Obibi
Executive Director
Alliances for Africa
Nigeria and United Kingdom

Ikeazor Akaraiwe
Chair of Council
Human Rights Institute of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA-HRI)
Nigeria

Osai Ojigho
Coordinator
Working Party on Gender Justice in Africa
Nigeria

Undule Mwakasungula
Executive Director
Center for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR)
Malawi

Jeanine Ban du Bahati
President
Encadrement des Femmes Indigenes et des Menages ulnérables(EFIM)
Democratic Republic of the Congo

M. Traore Wodjo Findi
President de l'ONG Panafricaine Club Union Africaine Côte d'Ivoire (Club UA/ CI) Observatrice A la CADHP/Banjul
Conseiller Economique et Social de l'Union Africaine ECOSOCC
Vice Président de Coalition Ivoirienne pour la Cour Pénal Internationale CI CPI
Coordonnateur Général de la Coalition de la Société Civile pour la Paix et le Développement
Démocratique en Cote d'Ivoire (COSOPCI)
Côte d'Ivoire

Clément Dohkot
President
Association des Victimes des Crimes du Regime de Hissene Habré
Chad

Christian Hemedi
Président
Association pour la Renaissance des Droits Humains au Congo (ARC- ONDH)
Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mildred Ngesa
Founder and Director
Peace Pen Communications
Kenya

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Crime of Aggression

This document has been published on 15Jun12 by the Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.