David Charter
World leaders could face prosecution for acts of state aggression — potentially including the invasion of Iraq — under calls for the International Criminal Court to extend its powers.
Britain and the US are among nations wary of such a move. The change would make “manifest violation of the Charter of the United Nations” an indictable offence at the court, which currently prosecutes those responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. There are fears that the move could intensely politicise the work of the fledgeling ICC in The Hague, making it harder for the court to gain the international recognition and confidence it needs.
The issue is expected to dominate a gathering in Kampala of delegates from most of the 111 signatories to the ICC, to review its working practices eight years after it was founded. There were also calls yesterday for universal acceptance of the ICC. Of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, three — the US, China and Russia — are yet to endorse the court.
Adding the crime of state aggression to the ICC’s remit “would be a significant step forward in the development of international law and an important extension of the court’s jurisdiction”, said Christian Wenaweser, president of the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC, meeting in the Ugandan capital.
