I do not think the ICC's primary goal should be promoting a peace, but its ultimate goal may have to be. Sometimes, the ICC's jurisdiction could even be in conflict with "peace", because it originally supposed to pursue "justice". In Sudan Darfur's case, for instance, seven suspects have been indicted by the court including President Omar Hassan Al-bashir. The decision was historic but also highly controversial, because the progress seemed to reach stalemate afterwards. The Sudanese government publicly opposed to ICC's decision arguing that it actually interfered with a peace treaty with the rebels and even exacerbated situation. Such decision, of course, contributed to establishing authority of international juridical system, showing that the court and justice had independent power. However, it might stimulate the Sudanese government and provoke bloodshed.
Justice and peace are two core values that prop up international community. Once the U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said "peace and justice should go along together, and no peace is sustainable without justice". In this regards, the ICC can and should play a role of promoting international "justice", but in a way that it harmoniously co-exist with international "peace".
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?”
I do not think the ICC's primary goal should be promoting a peace, but its ultimate goal may have to be. Sometimes, the ICC's jurisdiction could even be in conflict with "peace", because it originally supposed to pursue "justice". In Sudan Darfur's case, for instance, seven suspects have been indicted by the court including President Omar Hassan Al-bashir. The decision was historic but also highly controversial, because the progress seemed to reach stalemate afterwards. The Sudanese government publicly opposed to ICC's decision arguing that it actually interfered with a peace treaty with the rebels and even exacerbated situation. Such decision, of course, contributed to establishing authority of international juridical system, showing that the court and justice had independent power. However, it might stimulate the Sudanese government and provoke bloodshed.
Justice and peace are two core values that prop up international community. Once the U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said "peace and justice should go along together, and no peace is sustainable without justice". In this regards, the ICC can and should play a role of promoting international "justice", but in a way that it harmoniously co-exist with international "peace".