End Impunity: Equal Rights for All Under the Law

In 1998, the United Nations finalized the Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court. The statute guarantees a court to deal with the most atrocious criminals on the planet: those who commit war crimes and crimes against humanity. Even recent events, such as the genocide killings in Rwanda, remind us of the importance of a standard, objective Court of Law. The International Court intends to assume jurisdiction only in countries that have ratified the treaty, and only for the most monstrous crimes. The Criminal Court is potentially the most important institution for human rights in half a century.

However, the United States of America have made it clear that they will not ratify the Rome Statute. In 2002, the United States government informed the United Nations that "the United States does not intend to become a party to the treaty." In fact, they are on a diplomatic mission to create impunity agreements for its nationals from the Criminal Court. Basically, these impunity agreements would prevent any United States national from facing the Criminal Court. It is unfair to give one nationality exemption from law which should be standard all over the world. It is neither the intention of the Court, nor the writers of this petition, to take away power or basic rights from United States citizens. Simply, the court was formed to provide equality under the law and this is impossible with the existence of impunity agreements.