GIVE JUSTICE A CHANCE!

(New York Times, Friday, October 28, 1994)

Yesterday in Somalia, today in Rwanda and in Bosnia and tomorrow in other parts of the world, crimes against humanity are being and will be committed. Genocide. Massacres. acts of vengeance. Innocents condemned to death and executed. Yet the world can only stand by and

watch. Without an authority at the international level to enforce

justice, the perpetrators of these brutal acts can continue to kill without fear, without guilt, with impunity.

This must change - and it can. But we -all of us - must act now.

At the request of the United Nations, the International Law Commission has drafted a constitution of the International Criminal Court (ICC) - along guidelines developed by the Tribunal for War Crimes established to deal with cases arising in the former Yugoslavia. The International Criminal Court would be empowered to intervene in every part of the world where crimes are committed against humanity.

The ICC, however, cannot be established unless the Sixth Committee - which is currently meeting - and the General Assembly decide to convene an international conference in 1995 to negotiate the draft statute and conclude a convention. The Sixth Committee will

announce its decision sometime in November.

In other words, the power to bring these criminals to justice can begin now, or it can be postponed indefinitely. The decision rests with the Sixth Committee, the General Assembly - and all of us who care about humanity.

As Nobel Laureates, parliamentarians, mayors and citizens of the world, we have signed an appeal addressed to the highest UN authorities and to the delegates of the Member states, urging them to institute the ICC. We are also urging the United States, as the world's leading democracy and defender of human rights to support this position although, ironically, the U.S. appears to want to postpone the establishment of the Court.

That is why we now ask that you:

* Write, call or fax the President of the U.N. General

Assembly and the Chairperson of the Sixth Committee to recommend the adoption by the Sixth Committee of the draft constitution of the ICC and the convening of an international conference in 1995 : Fax (212)

963-4879.

* Write, call or fax and send E-mail to President Bill

Clinton to urge that the U.S. support the adoption by the Sixth Committee of the draft consitution of the ICC and the convening an international conference in 1995: E-Mail address: president@whitehouse.gov

* Write, call or fax your Senators to ask that they support

the adoption by the Sixth Committee of the draft constitution of the ICC and the convening an international conference in 1995: Capitol Hill: (202) 224-3121.

The world need not stand by in the presence of assault to humanity. Our joint effort can help[ humanity by establishing internationally enforced laws and justice.