Subject: [fem-women2000 781] Women's Globalnet #192: Internatoinal Criminal Court Goes Into Force
From: iwtc <iwtc@iwtc.org>
Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 17:04:49 +0000
Seq: 781
IWTC WOMEN'S GLOBALNET #192 Initiatives and Activities of Women Worldwide By Anne S. Walker April 12 2002 WOMEN'S GROUPS WELCOME THE NEW INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT AND A NEW ERA OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN PLEASE NOTE: The following information comes from the Women's Caucus for Gender Justice Press Release of April 11 2002. On Thursday, the number of ratifications necessary to bring the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court into force was exceeded when Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ireland, Jordan, Mongolia, Niger, Romania, and Slovakia, officially completed their ratification in a special ceremony at the UN Treaty Office. Women's groups have applauded this historic development as the Rome Statute codifies crimes of sexual and gender violence, which had historically not been addressed in humanitarian law. COALITION FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT Non-governmental organizations and civil society present during these negotiations at the United Nations are part of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, an international network of individuals and organizations from all over the world which formed in 1995. For information on CICC, contact: Adele Waugaman, Communications and Development Associate, c/o WFM, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017. Tel: (1-212) 687-2863 ext. 17. Fax: (1-212) 599-1332. E-mail: <ciccmedia@iccnow.org>. Web: <http://www.iccnow.org> WOMEN'S CAUCUS FOR GENDER JUSTICE Women's groups organized in 1997 as the Women's Caucus for Gender Justice to advocate for gender mainstreaming in the negotiations. As a result, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilization and sexual violence were included in the Rome Statute as war crimes and crimes against humanity. Prior codifications of humanitarian law, e.g. the Geneva and Hague Conventions, had failed to fully address this range of crimes and recognize them as among grave violations. In addition, trafficking and gender-based persecution were included as crimes against humanity. The statute also contains progressive provisions relating to the participation and protection of victims and witnesses in the process and women on the Court as judges, prosecutors and staff. For further information, contact: Pam Spees, Women's Caucus for Gender Justice, 33-53 Vernon Blvd, Ste 1. Long Island City, NY11106. USA. Tel: (1-718) 626-2681. Fax: (1-718) 626-3528. Web: http://www.iccwomen.org. Email: caucus@iccwomen.org STATUTE ENTERS INTO FORCE 1 JULY 2002 With the necessary ratifications, the Rome Statute will enter into force on 1 July 2002 at which time the Court's jurisdiction will take effect. It is anticipated that the first meeting of the Assembly of States Parties will convene in September 2002. THREATS TO THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE COURT As the International Criminal Court comes into existence, there are already serious threats to its independence, impartiality and effectiveness. A major stumbling block is the fact that the U.S has not ratified the Rome Statute and may even 'unsign' the treaty - something that has never been done before. Currently, there are two laws in effect in the U.S. which prohibit any support or assistance to the future Court as well as the ongoing process toward its establishment. The U.S. hostility towards the Court stems largely from the fact that the ICC will not be dependent on the UN Security Council for cases that can come before it and the U.S. was not successful in achieving exemptions for U.S. nationals. IWTC Women's GlobalNet is a production of: International Women's Tribune Centre 777 United Nations Plaza 3rd Floor New York, NY 10017, USA Tel: (1-212) 687-8633 Fax: (1-212) 661-2704 Email: <iwtc@iwtc.org> Web: <http://www.iwtc.org> PLEASE NOTE: For back issues of IWTC Women's GlobalNet, go to our website at <www.iwtc.org> and click on either Women's GlobalNet under Resources, or What's New? You can subscribe to this list at any time by sending a blank message to: <iwtc-womensglobalnet-subscribe@igc.topica.com> You can unsubscribe to this list at any time by sending a blank message to: <iwtc-womensglobalnet-unsubscribe@igc.topica.com> WOMEN, INK. For quality, cutting-edge publications on women and development by, for and about women worldwide, see Women, Ink's 2001 catalogue at : <http://www.womenink.org>. Or contact Women, Ink. at 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA. Tel: Yasna Uberoi (1-212) 687-8633 ext 212 or Mary Wong (1-212) 687-8633 ext 204. Fax: (1-212) 661-2704. 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