International Criminal Court sends strong signal to human rights abusers

By Tererai Karimakwenda
10 October 2005

The permanent International Criminal Court (ICC) has handed down its first ever indictment of individuals accused of breaking international human rights and humanitarian law. Not surprisingly, the indictment has been praised by many international organizations and it is hoped that it sends a strong signal to perpetrators that the world is serious.

The UN’s Democratic Republic of Congo Special Representative William Swing announced on October 6, that the ICC had issued arrest warrants for the elusive Lord's Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony and four other LRA commanders. These rebels have long been wanted for having committed atrocious crimes against civilians - torture, rape, murder, kidnapping and maiming children.

Phil ya Nangolo, executive director of Namibia’s National Society of Human Rights, issued a strong warning to perpetrators of such abuses on Monday. He said he is sure people like Robert Mugabe will take notice that the world means business. “Such indictments”, he said “should send a stern signal to war criminals, dictators and other abusers of power anywhere under the sky, that sooner or later their judgment day is coming.”

The ICC’s mandate is to ensure that those guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing and war crimes are punished. The court has automatic jurisdiction in all of the countries that have ratified the Statute which was established in 1998. Although Zimbabwe is not a signatory Ya Nangoloh said Mugabe could be arrested if he travels to countries that are, despite the fact that he is a head of state.

Ya Nangoloh said the court can be triggered in 3 ways. A state which is party to the crime can initiate a case and so can another country which is signatory. The third way is for the United Nations security council to do so, or the ICC prosecutor can also bring a motion.