I completely agree that peace and justice are two separate entities. While the ICC is pursuing justice, I do not see the world becoming more peaceful as a consequence. I do not believe that leaders committing mass crimes are worrying about being indicted by the ICC. Nor do I think that they would be dissuaded from committing such acts by viewing others' trials, which should supposedly root out the source of conflict in the world. For example, a common saying regarding the Holocaust is, "Never again." While the Nuremberg trials brought justice to those who participated in such a horrific event, the trials did not bring peace to the world, and genocide and ethnic cleansing does continue to happen. While the ICC is somewhat different since it is a permanent institution, it cannot preemptively act, and as such, I do not believe that it can promote world peace. It can only attempt to bring justice for those who have already been wronged.
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 completely agree that peace and justice are two separate entities. While the ICC is pursuing justice, I do not see the world becoming more peaceful as a consequence. I do not believe that leaders committing mass crimes are worrying about being indicted by the ICC. Nor do I think that they would be dissuaded from committing such acts by viewing others' trials, which should supposedly root out the source of conflict in the world. For example, a common saying regarding the Holocaust is, "Never again." While the Nuremberg trials brought justice to those who participated in such a horrific event, the trials did not bring peace to the world, and genocide and ethnic cleansing does continue to happen. While the ICC is somewhat different since it is a permanent institution, it cannot preemptively act, and as such, I do not believe that it can promote world peace. It can only attempt to bring justice for those who have already been wronged.