Africa to debate ICC role - by Justice Sibanda

In just 2 days’ time, African leaders could kill off a great institution, leaving the world a more dangerous place. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is the world’s first and only global court to adjudicate crimes against humanity. But leaders of Sudan and Kenya, who have inflicted terror and fear across their countries, are trying to drag Africa out of the ICC, allowing them the freedom to kill, rape, and inspire hatred without consequences.

African leaders will debate the continent's "relationship" with the International Criminal Court at a special summit on October 11, officials said Friday, amid growing opposition to the tribunal. The 54-member African Union has accused The Hague-based ICC of singling out Africans for prosecution and has previously called for the court to drop crimes against humanity trials of Kenya's leadership.

As defenders of human rights we believe that any withdrawal from the ICC would send the wrong signal about Africa’s commitment to protect and promote human rights and to reject impunity, as reflected in article 4 of the AU’s Constitutive Act, the organizations said. The work and functioning of the ICC should not be beyond scrutiny and improvement, but withdrawal would risk grave consequences of undermining justice in Africa.

  If African victims could get justice in their own countries, there would be no need for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to step in, former UN secretary general Kofi Annan said on Monday. He went on to say that, "On a continent that has experienced deadly conflict, gross violations of human rights, even genocide, I am surprised to hear critics ask whether the pursuit of justice might obstruct the search for peace,"

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Justice Melusi Sibanda  
Organising Secretary – ROHR Zimbabwe/Bradford Branch