UK Ratifies ICC Treaty as
US Considers Anti-ICC Legislation

Released by the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, October 4, 2001

The United Kingdom deposited its ratification of the Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court on Thursday, October 4, the third country to do s o in three days. Speaking at the UN, Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock said, "I am delighted to deposit the UK's ratification of the ICC today, making it the 42nd State Party to the Rome Statute for the ICC." He added, "We now want to see the 60 necessary ratifications deposited before the end of this General Assembly session."

William R. Pace, Convenor of the over 1000-member NGO Coalition for the ICC stated, "The importance of the ratification by the United Kingdom cannot be over-emphasized. This great nation's decision ensures that the International Criminal Court will come into existence in 2002. The UK recognizes the ICC will be a powerful international legal tool in the fight against global terrorism."

This week, the American Servicemembers' Protection Act (ASPA), a piece of extreme anti-ICC legislation, was re-introduced in Congress by Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC). It threatens to cut off military aid to countries that ratify the ICC treaty and would prohibit US cooperation even in a case of international terrorism. When asked about the UK government's response to ASPA, Ambassador Greenstock remarked, "The US is one of the UK's strongest allies, and the UK hopes the US will continue working with us in creating a permanent ICC. It is important to have the US in the ICC process and I hope the US will ratify the ICC Statute as soon as possible." Mr. Pace commented, "The UK ratification could not be a more timely or clear refutation of USA Congressional extremists' efforts to pass ASPA, at the same time the USA is trying to build a global coalition against terrorism."

A European delegate at the United Nations remarked yesterday that U.S. opposition to the ICC can "potentially alienate allies, thereby eroding support for the global coalition against terrorism." Another delegate said that legislation "imposing military and legal reprisals is unprecedented and unacceptable." Heather Hamilton, of the American Coalition for the ICC (AMICC) added, "The administration should realize that supporting legislation penalizing countries that join an international law enforcement mechanism is not the way to strengthen international efforts to bring terrorists to justice."

Leading human rights experts, including Mary Robinson, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, have asserted that once the ICC is created it would have jurisdiction over acts such as those committed on September 11.

The Coalition for the International Criminal Court was formed in 1995 to advocate for the creation of a fair, effective and independent International Criminal Court. It brings together a broad-based network of over 1000 non-governmental organizations and international law experts from every region of the world.