APPEAL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT AND TO BRING IMMEDIATELY TO TRIAL THE WAR CRIMINALS

To the President and the members of the 52nd United Nations General Assembly,

To the members of the United Nations Security Council,

To the Secretary General of the United Nations,

We, the undersigned, representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations of the world,

a. Considering the urgent necessity of ending the state of formal and substantial impunity for those responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes that have marked this century;

b. Emphasizing the unquestionable need for the international community to adopt a secure deterrent against future wars, massacres, and acts of aggression, as well as to deliver those who are responsible for these crimes to the International Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda;

c. Considering that the time has arrived for creating the first effective international jurisdiction for all nations around the world under the aegis of the UN, and the concrete possibility of closing this millenium with the banner of impartial and effective international justice;

d. Considering the significant progress achieved through the establishment of the International Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, but also that this progress is questioned by the limited people effectively judged by these institutions;

e. Considering that on December 17, 1997, the 51st UN General Assembly adopted a resolution that took into account the progress of the Preparatory Committee and set 1998 as the date for the convocation of a Diplomatic Conference to prepare a Convention for the establishment of an International Criminal Court;

f. Considering that, despite the results achieved, strong oppositions of numerous countries remain and that they should be overcome;

g. Considering that the Italian Government has confirmed its offer to host the Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries in June 1998;

Solemnly request the 52nd UN General Assembly, the members of the Security Council and the Secretary General,

1. To modify the SFOR mandate and to introduce every useful measure possible so that the persons sought for prosecution for war crimes and crimes against humanity in International Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda be brought to justice.

2. To renew the mandate of the PrepCom and to convene, for June 1998 in Rome, a Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries in order to establish, in that occasion, the International Criminal Court.

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