International Criminal Court
Photo credit: Human Rights Watch
25 March, 2019
The Honourable Chrystia Freeland
Minister of Foreign Affairs
111 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
E-mail: chrystia.freeland@international.gc.ca
Dear Minister Freeland,
Re: Threats by the USA against the International Criminal Court
We write on behalf of Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada (LRWC), a committee of lawyers who promote human rights and the rule of law. LRWC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN).
LRWC is gravely concerned by threats made by United States (US) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US National Security Advisor John Bolton against the International Criminal Court (ICC). On 10 September 2018, Mr. Bolton made explicit threats against ICC judges, prosecutors, or personnel if they investigated war crimes alleged to have been committed by US military or intelligence personnel in Afghanistan, or war crimes allegedly committed by Israeli forces or other US allies.[1] On 15 March 2019, Mr. Pompeo uttered threats against the ICC and announced a policy to deny and revoke US visas for ICC personnel who investigate suspected crimes by US nationals. Mr. Pompeo stated that this policy may also be extended to ICC investigations into suspected crimes by Israeli or other allied personnel.[2]
These threats are explicitly aimed at intimidating the Court and deterring its legitimate investigations into matters within its jurisdiction, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and the crime of aggression. The threats constitute a dangerous assault on the independence of the judiciary and on international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and the rule of law. The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights[3] describes the rule of law as essential to ensuring rights, the recognition of which is the “foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.” The maintenance of the rule of law internationally depends on all States and all international organizations upholding it in clear and robust ways.
On 22 March 2019, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers expressed deep concern and called for a halt to the US government’s threats against the ICC, stating that: “In order to guarantee effective and equal access to justice and a fair trial in accordance with international standards, the judicial system and individual judges must be independent and free from any improper interference.”[4]
LRWC joins the UN Special Rapporteurs and others in deploring the US threats against the ICC. We urge all States, particularly States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC,[5] to urgently denounce the US effort to intimidate ICC judges, prosecutors, and staff in attempts to prevent them from impartially and independently performing their duties under the Rome Statute.
We look forward to hearing from you as to Canada’s actions on this important matter.
Sincerely,
Gail Davidson
Executive Director, LRWC
Catherine Morris
UN Liaison Director, LRWC
Marjorie Cohn
LRWC Director
Deputy Secretary General, International Association of Democratic Lawyers
Former President, US National Lawyers Guild
Copied to:
The Honourable Erin O’Toole, MP
Official Opposition, Foreign Affairs Critic
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1A 0A6
Email: Erin.OToole@parl.gc.ca
Mr. Garnett Genuis, MP
Official Opposition Deputy Foreign Affairs Critic
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1A 0A6
Email: Garnett.Genuis@parl.gc.ca
Ms. Hélène Laverdière, MP
NDP Foreign Affairs Critic
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1A 0A6
Email: Helene.Laverdiere@parl.gc.ca
Ms. Elizabeth May, MP
Leader, Green Party of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1A 0A6
Email: Elizabeth.May@parl.gc.ca
Special Rapporteur on the independence of the judges and lawyers
Mr. Diego Garcia-Sayan
SRindependenceJL@ohchr.org
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
Mr. Michel Forst
defenders@ohchr.org
[1] Full text of John Bolton’s speech to the Federalist Society, TravelWireNews, 10 September 2018, available at: https://travelwirenews.com/full-text-of-john-boltons-speech-to-the-federalist-society-1084024/.
[2] Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State, Remarks to the Press, 15 March 2019, available at: https://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2019/03/290394.htm.
[3] UN General Assembly, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 10 December 1948, 217 A (III), Preamble, “Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law.”
[4] Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, “US ‘threats’ against International Criminal Court must stop, say UN experts,” 22 March 2019, available at: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24392&LangID=E.
[5] UN General Assembly, Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, 17 July 1998, entered into force 1 July 2012. There are currently 122 State Parties to the Statute and 36 States have ratified the Crime of Aggression Amendment.
