A Standing International Criminal Court: Step By Step Towards the Enforcement of International Justice

Abstract

The institutional arrangements for the promotion of peace, truth, justice, reparation and reconciliation of countries that are rebuilding democratic institutions following long years of war and conflict, are complex and should necessarily be varied. This article will focus on one salutary global development, namely the adoption of the Rome Statute for the establishment of an International Criminal Court. The author argues that it is essential that states display courage, tenacity and strong political will in actively pursuing the path of international justice and realizing the project of making the court a reality. The article highlights the contribution that civil society organizations including non-governrnental organizations, women's rights groups, academics, journalists, church groups and legal experts can play in educating their fellow citizens and in encouraging states to ratify the Rome Statute. This article approaches the International Criminal Court from three vantage points: first, the opening up of international law to a diversity of actors in the field of human rights; second, the universality of human rights and third, the emerging alliance between some States and civil society actors in ending the cycle of impunity.