Richard Dicker
Director, International Justice Program, Human Rights Watch
Lecture Topic beginning January 15, 2013
UN Security Council Lecture Question
How should the relationship between the International Criminal Court and the United Nations Security Council be changed, if at all, to advance international justice?
Comment on the Security Council Lecture Question: “How should the relationship between the International Criminal Court and the United Nations Security Council be changed, if at all, to advance international justice?”
I'm seeing many comments here that address the issue that not all members of the UN have signed the Rome Statute, and indeed, one noticeable nation that falls under this category is the United States, a permanent member of the security council. This is obviously a valid concern. There are two possible courses of action: either to disassociate the ICC with the security council, or to merge the two, such that ratifying the Rome Statute is a prerequisite to be a member of the security council. To my mind, the second option is unrealistic. However, the first would lead to a weakening in the ICC's scope. The question then remains: what is the least of three evils? The current situation, disassociating the two, or make ratifying the Rome Statute a prerequisite to being on the security council?
Richard Dicker
Director, International Justice Program, Human Rights Watch
Comment on the Security Council Lecture Question: “How should the relationship between the International Criminal Court and the United Nations Security Council be changed, if at all, to advance international justice?”
I'm seeing many comments here that address the issue that not all members of the UN have signed the Rome Statute, and indeed, one noticeable nation that falls under this category is the United States, a permanent member of the security council. This is obviously a valid concern. There are two possible courses of action: either to disassociate the ICC with the security council, or to merge the two, such that ratifying the Rome Statute is a prerequisite to be a member of the security council. To my mind, the second option is unrealistic. However, the first would lead to a weakening in the ICC's scope. The question then remains: what is the least of three evils? The current situation, disassociating the two, or make ratifying the Rome Statute a prerequisite to being on the security council?