Southern California Working Group on the International Criminal Court

723 East Green Street, Pasadena, California 91101

The International Criminal Court:

A Report on the Rome Treaty Conference

What is the Role for the United States?

Thursday, October 8th 1998, 5:30 o'clock, P. M. to 7:30 o'clock, P.M.

Southwestern School of Law - Bullock's Building

3050 Wilshire Boulevard - Los Angeles, California

Hon. Dorothy Nelson, Moderator

Senior Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit

Panelists:

William R. Pace

Convenor of the NGO Coalition for an International Criminal Court at the Rome Treaty Conference

Robert E. Lutz, Esq.

Professor of International Law, Southwestern School of Law

Paul L. Hoffman, Esq.

Chair of the Board, Amnesty International, U.S.A.

Laurie L. Levinson, Esq.

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Professor and William M. Rains Fellow at Loyola Law School

Laurence R. Helfer, Esq.

Associate Professor of International Law Loyola Law School

Seating is limited; RSVP to (213) 962-3935. Doors will open at 5:00

o'clock, P. M.; the program will begin promptly at 5:30 o'clock, P. M.

One hour of MCLE Credit is pending

"There can be no global justice unless the worst of crimes - crimes against humanity - are subject to the law. In this age more than ever we recognize that the crime of genocide against one people truly is an assault on us all - a crime against humanity. The establishment of an International Criminal Court will ensure that humanity's response will be swift and will be just." - U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan.

The United states has long championed the rule of law as a cornerstone of its foreign policy, and the current administration stated that it supported an International Criminal Court to deal with such crimes as genocide and

crimes against humanity. At the conclusion of a five week diplomatic conference in Rome, Italy, to negotiate the terms of the treaty to establish such a court, 120 nations voted in favor, seven against and there were 21 abstentions. Why was the United States one of seven nations to vote against the treaty?

Mr. David J. Scheffer, U. S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues, who headed the U. S. delegation to the Rome Treaty convention, reported to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 23, 1998 that "We are left

with consequences that do not serve the cause of international justice." The ambassador also reported that "the Administration hopes that in the years ahead other governments will recognize the benefits of potential American participation and correct the treaty."

The Rome Treaty, a codification of international law, is now available for the protection of victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. The Treaty and the laws of war and human rights law which preceded the treaty are now available for interpretation and application by victims rights advocates, international legal scholars, international and domestic lawyers, military lawyers and officers, and civilian policy

makers. All these persons must now become familiar with this new document and anticipate its present and future effect on their plans, appeals and decisions.

The Southern California Working Group for an International Criminal Court promotes education about the Treaty, the purposes and procedures of the ICC, and regarding the issues and questions about participation with the ICC by the United States. Please join us for a panel discussion about these issues.

For further information available on the Internet, please visit the following sites:

United Nations:

www.un.org/icc (includes text of Treaty)

United States Department of State:

www.state.gov/www/policy_remarks/index.html (remarks by Amb. Scheffer)

Washington Working Group on the ICC:

www.unausa.org/programs/wwgicc.htm

Coalition for an ICC:

www.igc.org/icc/index.html

Lawyers Committee for Human Rights:

www.lchr.org/icc

The program is co-sponsored by:

The International Law Society, Southwestern School of Law

United Nations Association

World Federalist Association

Amnesty International

The Humanitarian Law Project

Human Rights Watch

Regional Council of Organizations

Special Thanks to:Southwestern School of Law

The Roth Family Foundation