Our purpose: Promoting peace through criminal justice – preventing crimes of aggression
Through the United Nations Charter, States have expressed their commitment “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”. They have agreed to renounce the illegal threat or use of force, and to settle their disputes “by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered”. States have the legal duty to abide by this commitment and the UN Security Council has the primary responsibility to enforce it.The Nuremberg Trials made it clear that criminal justice also has an important role to play for the promotion of peace and the deterrence of acts of aggression – though it remained limited and theoretical for many decades thereafter. With the 2010 Kampala amendments to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, States Parties created a new mechanism to enforce the most important rule of international law: the prohibition of the illegal use of force under the United Nations Charter. This website is dedicated to making accountability a reality.
News
Widespread support for Kampala Amendments at UN debate on ICC: The Kampala Amendments on the crime of aggression were on the minds of many States Parties taking part in the annual debate of the United Nations General Assembly on the International Criminal Court. States, such as the 14 Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), welcomed the 24 ratifications of the crime of aggression amendments to date. Others, like Madagascar, renewed their commitment to an early ratification of the amendments. The newest State Party to ratify both sets of Kampala Amendments, Switzerland, called on others to follow suit – a call that was echoed by many other speakers including Liechtenstein. There was also a strong urge to activate the amendments as early as possible – a sentiment expressed by Cyprus, Brazil and others. The Kampala Amendments were also taken up by non-States Parties, with the United States and China reiterating their reservations.
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Switzerland ratifies Kampala Amendments as the 24th State: On 10 September 2015, Jürg Lauber, Permanent Representative of the Switzerland to the UN, deposited his country’s instrument of ratification of the Kampala Amendments. Switzerland was a key player in the negotiations leading up to the Kampala conference in 2010 and at the conference itself. Switzerland helped bridge gaps and thus ensured the successful adoption of the compromise. With 24 ratifications, we are getting closer to achieving the milestone of 30 ratifications in the near future.
Photo: (from left to right) Christian Wenaweser, Ambassador of Liechtenstein to the UN; Jürg Lauber, Ambassador of Switzerland to the UN; Santiago Villalpando, Chief of the UN’s Treaty Section.
Parliamentarians pledge ratification of the Kampala Amendments: At an event hosted by Liechtenstein, Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) and the Global Institute for the Prevention of Aggression, several members of parliament pledged to work to support the ratification of the Kampala Amendments within their own countries. Parliamentarians were able to hear a video message from former Nuremberg Prosecutor Benjamin Ferencz, and listen to remarks by Albert Frick (President, Parliamentarians for Global Action), Felipe Michelini (former Member of Parliament, Uruguay) and Stefan Barriga (Deputy Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein to the UN). Speakers of the Parliaments of Madagascar and Senegal then offered commentaries, in which they underscored the importance of the Kampala Amendments and pledged to facilitate their ratification. After an interesting question-and-answer session, Mark Pritchard (Member of the UK House of Commons, Rapporteur of PGA) and Minou Tavarez Mirabal (Member of the Parliament of the Dominican Republic and President of PGA) gave concluding remarks.
Links to select materials follow below:
In the Nuremberg Spirit, Donald M. Ferencz calls for ratification of the Kampala Amendments: Writing on the crime of aggression, deterrence and the International Criminal Court, Donald M. Ferencz, Convenor of the Global Institute for the Prevention of Aggression, called on States to ratify the Kampala Amendments on the crime of aggression. This would serve to build on the historic legal precedent established at Nuremberg and on their pledge to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.
Read the full article on the Website of the Institute for 21st Century Questions.
70th Anniversary of VE Day, 3rd anniversary of the first ratification of the Kampala Amendments: 70 years ago today, Nazi Germany surrendered unconditionally, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe. The aftermath of this war that caused untold suffering amongst millions saw the creation of the Nuremberg and Tokyo Tribunals – the only international courts so far empowered to try individuals for the crime of aggression. While the following decades saw the prohibition of the illegal use of force cemented into international law in the Charter of the United Nations, no international court has been able to hold transgressors to account. The Kampala Amendments on the crime of aggression present a historic opportunity to change that, to allow the International Criminal Court to adjudge those most responsible for the most serious illegal uses of force. Three years ago, Liechtenstein became the first State to ratify the Kampala Amendments on the crime of aggression. As of today, 23 States have ratified the amendments, paving the way for their activation in 2017. Let us honor all victims of aggressive war by making this a reality.
Photo: War devastates the city of Warsaw, World War II
Second Benjamin B. Ferencz Essay Competition now accepting entries: All comers are invited to reflect on the relationship between jus ad bellum and jus in bello in the context of modern war crimes trials. Expressions of intent to participate are invited by 15 May. The winning essay will win $10,000, with $2,500 for the second and third placed entries. The competition is hosted by Prof. Michael Scharf, member of the Global Institute for the Prevention of Aggression’s Council of Advisers. Further details are available on the website of the Frederick K. Cox International Law Center. The inaugural essay competition addressed the question of the illegal use of force as a crime against humanity.
Swiss parliament approves ratification of the Kampala Amendments: On 20 March, the Swiss Federal Assembly unanimously approved the ratification of the Kampala Amendments. Ratification had previously been recommended by both the upper and the lower chambers of the Federal Assembly on 27 November 2014 and 9 March 2015, respectively. Switzerland thus remains on track to deposit its instrument of ratification in summer 2015.
You can track the Kampala Amendments’ progress through the Federal Assembly in German and French.
Czech Republic 23rd State to ratify Kampala Amendments: On 12 March 2015, Edita Hrdá, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic deposited her country’s instrument of ratification of the Kampala Amendments. Sidiki Kaba, President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute witnessed the event. The Eastern European region continues its leadership role in the ratification of the Kampala Amendments: 8 of the 18 Eastern European States Parties have now ratified the amendments, with the remainder having pledged to do so soon. With several domestic ratification processes nearing completion, we remain on track to achieve the milestone of 30 ratifications in the first half of 2015.
- You can read ASP President Kaba’s statement here.