United States: Human rights experts urge Senate to reject bill sanctioning International Criminal Court

The ICC issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Click here to read our analysis of the decision and likely next steps, and here for our explanation of the ICC.

Asked by reporters at the regular midday press briefing whether the U.N. chief had an opinion on the congressional bill, spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said that while he would not comment on individual laws, we have a position of principle, although it is independent of the Secretariat. , the Secretary-General has great respect for the Court and for the work of the International Criminal Court, which in itself is a very important pillar of international justice.

The experts – Margaret Satterthwaite, Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers; Francesca Albanese, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, and George Katrougalos, independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order – raised their concerns in a statement.

A shocking gesture

They are dismayed by the adoption on Thursday by the US House of Representatives of a law sanctioning the ICC decision. The court also issued an arrest warrant for a former Hamas commander alongside the others.

It is shocking to see a country that considers itself a champion of the rule of law attempting to thwart the actions of an independent and impartial tribunal set up by the international community to thwart accountability, they said. said the experts.

Threats against the ICC foster a culture of impunity. They make a mockery of the decades-long quest to place law above force and atrocities, they warned.

Experts have written to US authorities to raise their concerns.

The ICC promotes accountability

The ICC was established under a 1998 treaty known as the Rome Statute. The United States is not a party to the statute, like dozens of other countries, but 125 countries are members of the Court.

Its mandate is to investigate and prosecute individuals for the serious international crimes of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. It is based in The Hague, Netherlands.

Experts recalled that the ICC is the legacy of the Nuremberg trials that held Nazi leaders accountable and the commitment to never allow heinous crimes, such as those committed during World War II, to go unpunished.

The tireless work of courageous legal professionals at the ICC is the main driver of accountability. The work of its prosecutors becomes the foundation upon which our efforts to maintain the integrity of the international law system rest, they said.

ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan visits the Tarhunah landfill in Libya, where more than 250 people have been identified in several mass graves. (deposit)

Respect for legal professionals

They called on all States parties to the ICC, and all UN Member States in general, to observe and respect international standards regarding legal professionals working to ensure that those responsible for the most serious international crimes are held responsible.

International standards provide that lawyers and judicial personnel must be able to carry out all their professional functions without intimidation, obstruction, harassment or inappropriate interference; and should not suffer, or be threatened with prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics, they explained.

A blind spot for justice

They said the bill, titled the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, would take effect 60 days after it is signed into law.

It would sanction anyone working to investigate, arrest, detain or prosecute U.S. citizens or an official of a country allied with the United States, including Israel. All U.S. funds intended for the ICC would also be canceled, and any future money intended for the Court would be prohibited.

Experts said imposing sanctions on judicial personnel for carrying out their professional responsibilities constitutes a blatant violation of human rights that goes to the heart of judicial independence and the rule of law.

The adoption of a bill that creates a blind spot for justice in certain countries not only legalizes double standards and impunity, but irremediably undermines the spirit of universality on which the international justice system is based , they said.

Such actions erode public confidence in the impartiality and integrity of the judiciary and set a dangerous precedent, politicizing judicial functions and weakening the global commitment to accountability and fairness,” they said. added.

Defending judicial independence

They warned that if implemented, the sanctions would amount to offenses against the administration of justice under Article 70 of the Rome Statute, which punishes efforts to obstruct or intimidate an official of the Court or to retaliate against him because of his official duties. homework.

We urge U.S. lawmakers to respect the rule of law and the independence of judges and lawyers, and we call on States to respect the independence of the Court as a judicial institution and to protect the independence and impartiality of those who work within the Court, they said.

About UN experts

Special rapporteurs and independent experts receive their mandates from the United Nations Human Rights Council, based in Geneva.

They work on a voluntary basis, are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work.

Experts are independent of any government or organization and act in their individual capacity.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos