U.S. Seeks Renewal of Exemption for Peacekeepers
Introduces Security Council Resolution Granting Immunity from ICC

Washington DC -- Late yesterday afternoon, the United States requested another UN Security Council resolution granting many United Nations peacekeepers immunity from the International Criminal Court. The resolution renews the exemption granted in the previous two years under Resolutions 1422 and 1487, first achieved in a showdown in which the U.S. vetoed the Bosnia peacekeeping mission and threatened to veto all UN peacekeeping missions until its demands were met. The Security Council will consider the resolution on Friday afternoon, during an open debate at which many countries are expected to raise serious concerns about it.

“Clearly the actions of the International Criminal Court so far should have put to bed the unreasonable concerns of this administration,” said Heather Hamilton, Vice President for Programs. “The Court’s actions to date underscore that it is functioning as intended – looking at only those situations that truly shock the conscience of humanity and which existing national and international mechanisms have so far been unable to tackle.”

The International Criminal Court is the only permanent international court that can try individuals accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity when national courts cannot or will not. ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo has thus far received two referrals from ICC member countries, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The prosecutor has focused his attention on these two cases while publicly rejecting other requests that the Court take action.

The resolution prohibits the International Criminal Court (ICC) from investigating or prosecuting any current or former official or personnel from a non-ICC country (like the U.S.) participating in a mission authorized or established by the UN. In an open meeting of the Security Council on 10 July 2002, more than one hundred UN member states made statements opposing the adoption of Resolution 1422 and declaring that it was contrary to international law. Last year, in a similar open meeting, UN member states were virtually unanimous in opposing the renewal of Resolution 1422.

Maggie Gardner, International Law and Justice Program Manager, said “The last thing the U.S. needs right now is to further antagonize its friends and give the impression that it sees itself as above the law. This resolution has little real impact other than to make Americans look like bullies.”

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Notes to Editors:
For more information about the issue, including the text of previous resolutions, country statements and analysis:
International Criminal Court Project
International NGO Coalition for the ICC