Covenor Case argues that the ICC, an organization that promotes peace, should receive funding proportional to that of the UN, an organization that promotes war and aggression. Although there is some truth to his assertion, I have to disagree with it on the basis that Case is over generalizing. Although the UN authorized the use of force around the world, its goal, as clearly stated in the UN charter, is
"to maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace."
Any force used by the UN is for the sole purpose of peace, and I think that Pace fails to credit this fact. Peace is the direct goal of every UN action, and force is only an indirect effect in achieving that goal. The ICC's direct aim, on the other hand, is to achieve international justice, with peace coming as a result of achieving that goal. In this light, maybe more funding for international peace SHOULD go to the UN rather than the ICC, especially since the ICC has been relatively ineffective in indicting war criminals (1 conviction in 10 years).
William R. Pace
Convenor; Coalition for the ICC (CICC)
Comment on the Peace Lecture Question: “To what extent can the ICC advance peace around the world?”
Covenor Case argues that the ICC, an organization that promotes peace, should receive funding proportional to that of the UN, an organization that promotes war and aggression. Although there is some truth to his assertion, I have to disagree with it on the basis that Case is over generalizing. Although the UN authorized the use of force around the world, its goal, as clearly stated in the UN charter, is
"to maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace."
Any force used by the UN is for the sole purpose of peace, and I think that Pace fails to credit this fact. Peace is the direct goal of every UN action, and force is only an indirect effect in achieving that goal. The ICC's direct aim, on the other hand, is to achieve international justice, with peace coming as a result of achieving that goal. In this light, maybe more funding for international peace SHOULD go to the UN rather than the ICC, especially since the ICC has been relatively ineffective in indicting war criminals (1 conviction in 10 years).