—Updated to include additional endorsements on October 10, 2013—
Foreign Ministers
African States Parties to the International Criminal Court
Re: Support for the ICC at African Union (AU) summit on October 11-12
Dear Foreign Minister:
We, the undersigned 163 African civil society organizations and international organizations with representatives in 36 African countries, write to urge your government to affirm its support for the ICC and the court’s treaty, the Rome Statute, during the extraordinary AU summit on the ICC scheduled for October 11-12, 2013.
As you know, the relationship between the ICC and some African governments has faced renewed challenges as the ICC’s cases for crimes committed during Kenya’s post-election violence in 2007-08 have progressed. This has led to the scheduling of the AU extraordinary summit and questions over whether some African ICC statesmay be considering withdrawal from the Rome Statute.
We believe any withdrawal from the ICC would send the wrong signal about Africa’s commitment to protect and promote human rights and reject impunity as reflected in article 4 of the AU’s Constitutive Act. Needless to say, the work and functioning of the ICC should not be beyond scrutiny and improvement. However, considerations of withdrawal risk grave consequences for civilians in Africa, who tend to bear the brunt of serious crimes committed in violation of international law.
The ICC remains the only permanent criminal court with the authority to act when a state with jurisdiction is unable or unwilling to investigate or prosecute. As organizations working within Africa, some on behalf of or alongside victims of international crimes, we see every day the importance of ensuring access to justice. It is also important to note that withdrawal from the Rome Statute would not have a legal impact on the ICC’s existing cases.
A key criticism raised by some African leaders is that the court is targeting Africa. While the ICC’s cases are entirely from Africa, the majority came before the court as a result of requests by the states where the crimes were committed (Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mali). Two other situations—Libya and Darfur, Sudan—were referred by the United Nations Security Council, with the support of its African members. Kenya is the only situation where the ICC Office of the Prosecutor acted on its own initiative, but only with the approval of an ICC pre-trial chamber after Kenya failed to take action to ensure justice domestically.
We recognize that international justice currently operates unevenly across the globe. In some situations, powerful governments are able to shield their citizens and the citizens of their allies from the ICC’s authority by not joining the ICC or using their veto power at the Security Council to block referrals of situations to the court.
We will continue to work with your government and other partners to ensure consistency in the application of international justice, including pressing against double standards at the Security Council. But undercutting justice for crimes where it is possible because justice is not yet possible in all situations risks emboldening those who might commit grave crimes. Working to expand, rather than contract, the membership of the ICC is a key step in widening access to justice and sending the message that no one is above the law.
The ICC’s role in Kenya underscores the court’s role as a crucial court of last resort, and we urge your government to signal support for this process to run its course.
Kenya’s leaders in 2008 initially agreed to set up a special tribunal to try cases related to the post-election violence, which claimed more than 1100 lives, destroyed livelihoods, and displaced more than a half-million people. But when efforts to create the tribunal or to move forward cases in ordinary courts failed, the ICC prosecutor opened an investigation. This had been recommended by a national commission of inquiry set up as part of an African Union-mediated agreement to end the violence.
Although the African Union, at the initiative of Kenya and Uganda, called for a “referral” of the ICC’s cases to a national mechanism in Kenya at its May 2013 summit, such referral is only for the ICC judges to decide on the basis of a legal challenge to the ICC, known as an admissibility challenge. In view of a lack of genuine national investigations and prosecutions, the ICC judges in 2011 rejected a challenge by the Kenyan government in these cases. Even since that decision there have not been serious efforts within Kenya to mount investigations and prosecutions of the post-election violence.
Kenya has put governments in an awkward position by pressing for action to avoid the ICC’s cases for crimes committed in Kenya while having failed to avail itself of the legal procedures for the court to authorize such a move based on credible domestic investigation and prosecution. If adopted, a recent resolution by the Kenyan parliament to repeal the country’s International Crimes Act also would mean that the country would lose an important tool for the domestic prosecution of international crimes.
African states have been some of the most important supporters of the creation and effective functioning of the ICC. African states played an active role at the negotiations to establish the court, and 34 African states—a majority of African Union member states—have now become ICC states parties. As discussed above, African governments have sought the ICC’s assistance to carry out investigations and prosecutions, and Africans are also among the highest-level ICC officials and staff and serve as judges at the court.
In this context, we urge your government to work to ensure support within Africa for the ICC and its critical role in the fight against impunity, including in Kenya. This includes by signaling at AU meetings, in public comments, and in bilateral discussions with other African governments that the court represents a vital instrument in the fight against impunity.
We would welcome the chance to discuss this important issue further and civil society organizations with offices in your country will be in contact to set up a meeting on these matters.
Sincerely,
- Amnesty International Benin
- Benin Coalition for the International Criminal Court (ICC), Benin
- DITSHWANELO - The Botswana Centre for Human Rights, Botswana
- Amnesty International Burkina Faso
- l'Action des Chrétiens pour l'Abolition de la Torture au Burundi
- Action pour le Droit et le Bien-être de l'Enfant, Burundi
- Association of Female Lawyers of Burundi
- Burundi Coalition for the ICC, Burundi
- Fontaine-ISOKO pour la Bonne Gouvernance et le Développement Intégré, Asbl, Burundi
- Forum for Strengthening Civil Society, Burundi
- Forum pour la Conscience et le Développement, Burundi
- Ligue burundaise des droits de l'Homme, Burundi
- Réseau des Citoyens Probes, Burundi
- Cameroon Coalition for the ICC, Cameroon
- Gender Empowerment and Development, Cameroon
- Association of Female Lawyers of Cape Verde
- Central African Coalition for the ICC, Central African Republic
- Association tchadienne pour la promotion et le défense des droits de l'Homme, Chad
- Chad Civil Society Coalition for the ICC, Chad
- Ligue tchadienne des droits de l'Homme, Chad
- Amnesty International Côte d'Ivoire
- Ivorian Coalition for the ICC, Côte d'Ivoire
- Ivorian Coalition of Human Rights Defenders, Côte d'Ivoire
- Ligue ivoirienne des droits de l'Homme, Côte d'Ivoire
- Mouvement ivoirien des droits humains, Côte d'Ivoire
- Réseau Equitas Côte d'Ivoire
- SOS Exclusion, Côte d'Ivoire
- Access to Justice, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
- Arche d'Alliance, DRC
- Centre de Recherche sur l'Environnement, la Démocratie et les Droits de l'Homme, DRC
- Christian Activists Actions for Human Rights in Shabunda, DRC
- Coalition des Volontaires pour la Paix et le Développement, DRC
- Committee of Observers of Human Rights, DRC
- Congo Peace Network, DRC
- Congolese Foundation for the Promotion of Human Rights and Peace, DRC
- Coordination Office of the Civil Society of South Kivu, DRC
- Democratic Republic of the Congo National Coalition for the ICC, DRC
- Groupe des Hommes Voues au Développement Intercommunautaire, DRC
- League for Peace, Human Rights and Justice, DRC
- La Ligue des Elécteurs, DRC
- Ligue pour la Promotion et le Développement Intégral de la Femme et de l'Enfant, DRC
- The Lotus Group, DRC
- Promotion de la Démocratie et Protection des Droits Humains, DRC
- Réseau des organisations de lutte contre la torture en Afrique centrale, DRC
- Solidarité avec les Victimes et pour la Paix, DRC
- Solidarité pour la Promotion Sociale et la Paix, DRC
- Synergie des ONGs Congolaises pour les Victimes, DRC
- Vision GRAM- International, DRC
- Vision Sociale asbl, DRC
- Voix des Sans Voix pour les Droits de l'Homme, DRC
- Eastern Africa Journalists Association, Djibouti
- Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and Legal Profession, Egypt
- Arab Coalition for the ICC, Egypt
- Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Egypt
- Egyptian Coalition for the ICC, Egypt
- Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, Egypt
- Human Rights Concern, Eritrea
- The Civil Society Associations Gambia
- Coalition For Change, Gambia
- Abibiman Foundation, Ghana
- Amnesty International Ghana
- Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights, Ghana
- Communication for Social Change, Ghana
- Ghana Center for Democratic Development, Ghana
- Media Foundation for West Africa, Ghana
- Association des victimes, parents et amis du 28 septembre 2009, Guinea
- Organisation guinéenne des droits de l'Homme et du Citoyen, Guinea
- Amnesty International Kenya
- Civil Society Organization’s Network, Kenya
- Independent Medico-Legal Unit, Kenya
- International Center for Transitional Justice, Kenya
- International Commission of Jurists Kenya
- Kenyans for Peace with Truth and Justice, Kenya
- Kituo Cha Sheria, Kenya
- Unganisha Wakenya Association, Kenya
- Transformation Resource Center, Lesotho
- Actions for Genuine Democratic Alternatives, Liberia
- Concerned Christian Community, Liberia
- Foundation for International Dignity, Liberia
- Liberia Research and Public Policy Center, Liberia
- National Civil Society Council of Liberia
- National Youth Action, Inc., Liberia
- Rights and Rice Foundation, Liberia
- Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation, Malawi
- Centre for the Development of People, Malawi
- Civil Liberties Committee, Malawi
- Church and Society Programme, Malawi
- Amnesty International Mali
- Association malienne des droits de l'Homme, Mali
- Coalition Malienne des Défenseurs des Droits Humains, Mali
- FEMNET-Mali
- Mali Coalition for the ICC, Mali
- Association des Femmes Chefs de Familles, Mauritania
- Association Mauritanienne des droits de l'Homme, Mauritania
- SOS-Esclaves, Mauritania
- NamRights, Namibia
- Access to Justice, Nigeria
- Alliances for Africa, Nigeria
- BAOBAB for Women's Human Rights, Nigeria
- BraveHeart Initiative for Youth & Women, Nigeria
- Centre for Citizens Rights, Nigeria
- Centre for Democracy and Development, Nigeria
- Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution, Nigeria
- Citizens Center for Integrated Development & Social Rights, Nigeria
- Civil Liberties Organisation, Nigeria
- Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre, Nigeria
- Coalition of Eastern NGOs, Nigeria
- Human Rights Agenda Network Nigeria
- Human Rights Social Development and Environmental Foundation, Nigeria
- Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Nigeria
- Justice, Development and Peace Commission, Nigeria
- Legal Redress and Justice Centre, Nigeria
- Legal Resources Consortium, Nigeria
- National Coalition on Affirmative Action, Nigeria
- Nigeria Coalition for the International Criminal Court, Nigeria
- Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, Nigeria
- West African Bar Association, Nigeria
- Engagement for peace and human rights, Republic of the Congo
- Human Rights First Rwanda Association, Rwanda
- Amnesty International Senegal
- Ligue sénégalaise des droits humains, Senegal
- Amnesty International Sierra Leone
- Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law, Sierra Leone
- Coalition for Justice and Accountability, Sierra Leone
- Amnesty International South Africa
- Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, South Africa
- Co-operative for Research and Education, South Africa
- Darfur Solidarity, South Africa
- International Crime in Africa Programme, Institute for Security Studies, South Africa
- South Africa Forum for International Solidarity, South Africa
- Southern Africa Litigation Centre, South Africa
- Children Education Society, Tanzania
- Services Health & Development for people living positively with HIV/AIDS, Tanzania
- Tanzania Pastoralist Community Forum, Tanzania
- Amnesty International Togo
- Collectif des Associations Contre l'Impunité au Togo
- West African Human Rights Network, Togo
- Al-Kawakibi Democracy Transition Center, Tunisia
- Advocates for Public International Law Uganda
- African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies, Uganda
- Community Development and Child Welfare Initiatives, Uganda
- Corruption Brakes Crusade, Uganda
- East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, Uganda
- Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, Uganda
- Human Rights Network Uganda
- Kumi Human Rights Initiative, Uganda
- Lango Female Clan Leaders' Association, Uganda
- Lira NGO Forum, Uganda
- People for Peace and Defence of Rights, Uganda
- Soroti Development Association & NGOs Network, Uganda
- Uganda Coalition on International Criminal Court, Uganda
- Uganda Victims Foundation, Uganda
- Women Peace and Security, Uganda
- Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes, Zambia
- Amnesty International Zimbabwe
- Counselling Services Unit, Zimbabwe
- Coalition for the International Criminal Court, with offices in Benin and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Enough Project, with offices in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda
- Human Rights Watch, with offices in Kenya and South Africa
- International Federation for Human Rights, with offices in Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Kenya, and Mali
- Parliamentarians for Global Action, with offices in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda
- West African Journalists Association, with offices in Mali and Senegal
- Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice, with offices in Egypt and Uganda
