A COURT FOR THE WORLD'S WORST CRIMES April 98

Are you tired of seeing the world's worst criminals walk free? Right now you have a chance to make sure that those responsible for genocide, aggression, mass murder, systematic rape and torture are brought to justice. The time to act is now. Within a few weeks, the opportunity may be lost.

From 15 June until 17 July 1998, the world's governments will meet in Rome to finalize a treaty to create a permanent International Criminal Court. The idea is that the Court will be able to prosecute individuals for gross violations of human rights when national courts fail to do so.

For the first time, there would be a legal deterrent against the massive crimes committed by political and military leaders that we've seen in Bosnia, Rwanda, Cambodia and so many other places. But there's a real risk that the treaty will be so watered down that the International Criminal Court will be toothless.

A series of meetings have already been held among governments to draft the treaty. But many of the key issues won't be resolved until June. Those issues include:

CRIMES: Although genocide, other crimes against humanity (meaning gross violations of human rights) and war crimes will be included in the Court's jurisdiction, some governments are trying to restrict the crimes that are covered. It is crucial that the treaty specifically includes international aggression, mass rape, and war crimes in internal as well as international wars.

INDEPENDENCE: The current draft treaty would require the consent of the country where the crime was committed before the Court's prosecutor can investigate. If you were a national leader who had just murdered 10,000 people, would you give your consent? Just as bad, the draft treaty enables the five Big Powers on the UN Security Council to shield themselves and others from criminal prosecution. And it prohibits the Court from acting until the Security Council or a national government refers a case to it.

Weakening the Court may suit some national governments, but it's bad news for the victims.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

A number of governments are pushing for a truly independent and effective Court, and they urgently need your support. Please write to one or more of your representatives in your national parliament or congress. Ask them to urge your government to support in Rome the establishment of an International Criminal Court with:

    * broad jurisdiction over crimes of aggression, all war crimes in both internal and international wars, genocide, and other crimes against humanity, including mass rape and violence against children.

    * a prosecutor able to investigate and prosecute anyone suspected of such crimes, anywhere in the world, regardless of whether a national government or the UN Security Council has given its consent or brought a case to the Court.

Please act now. If we succeed, an independent and effective International Criminal Court will help to protect human rights for generations to come.