US Position on Today's ICC Resolution

Coalition for the International Criminal Court

For Immediate Distribution
23 November 2005
Press Statement

“The General Assembly resolution adopted today stands as the strongest UN resolution on the International Criminal Court (ICC) in several years. This resolution was adopted by consensus with only the United States government expressing a reservation. However, the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC) welcomes the fact that the US statement today was the most constructive one that the US has made on the ICC since it revoked its signature on the ICC treaty in May 2002. The ICC represents a major step forwards in the ending of impunity around the world – this was clearly reflected in today’s strong and supportive resolution at the UN.”

- William R. Pace is the Convenor of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, an NGO network established in 1995 that now represents over 2,000 civil society organizations that work to promote a fair, effective and independent International Criminal Court

ENDS
Notes to the Editor:

1. The webcast of the adoption of today’s resolution is available at: http://www.un.org/webcast/ga.html

2. The UN document number of the resolution is A/60/L.25, available at:
http://www.iccnow.org/documents/statements/ICCofficials/2005/
Draft%20GAresolutionOnICC%20A%2060%20L25%2022Nov05%20.pdf

3. Statements from the General Assembly debate are available on the CICC website at: http://www.iccnow.org/documents/declarationsresolutions/ga60.html

4. The ICC is the world’s first permanent global criminal court. It is an independent body and was established in The Hague, the Netherlands on 1 July 2002 when the ICC treaty entered into force. The ICC does not have jurisdiction over crimes prior to that date.

5. The Court is currently investigating cases in Darfur, Sudan; the Democratic Republic of Congo; and Uganda. The ICC Prosecutor’s office is also analyzing eight situations on four continents including the Central African Republic and Cote d’Ivoire. The ICC’s geographic jurisdiction extends over the territories and nationals of the 100 countries that have ratified or acceded to its treaty. The Court may also have jurisdiction in situations referred by the UN Security Council. In accordance with the Court’s “complementarity”principle, however, the ICC will only act when national courts have been unable or unwilling to do so.

6. The CICC is not an organ of the Court but rather an independent NGO network of more than 2,000 civil society organizations working to promote a fair, effective and independent ICC. The CICC was established in February 1995 and has offices in New York City and The Hague as well as seven regional offices around the world. The website of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court is: www.iccnow.org

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