PRESS RELEASE
If
the world is to become a fairer, more compassionate, tolerant and peaceful
place, it needs institutions such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) to
hold those who abuse power to account.
It
needs a criminal court where all are held equally to account, regardless of
their nations’ wealth, geographic location or particular history.
By
refusing to submit to the jurisdiction of the court, some of the most powerful
nations in the world have created an environment in which no world leaders feel
the need to be held to account – least of all those who stand accused by the
court of war crimes and crimes against humanity, as Sudanese President Omar
al-Bashir does.
These
powerful nations have created the rationale for the South African government to
allow al-Bashir into the country despite the international warrant of arrest
hanging over his head, and then to allow him to travel home despite a South
African High Court order to the contrary.
What that says about South Africa’s moral fabric (the same government has
thrice refused to allow His Holiness the Dalai Lama into the country) is a moot
point. It is the further eroding of the ICC’s ability to function equitably
that will concern lovers of peace across the world.
A
court that cannot uphold the principle of all being equal before the law lacks
integrity.
The
reason that the International Criminal Court is battling is neither Africa’s
nor the court’s fault; African nations and lawyers played prominent roles in
establishing the court, in 2002.
The
reason the ICC is battling for integrity is because some of the most powerful
nations in the world would rather there was no court than one that might one
day hold them to account, too.
In a
moral world, Al-Bashir would have the opportunity to defend himself in a court to
which all nations should be equally accountable, regardless of their power.
Allafrica
0 comments:
Post a Comment