The U.S. Perspective on the International Criminal Court (Hate, Genocide and Human Rights Fifty Years Later: What Have We Learned? What Must We Do ?) (Transcript‪)‬

The speaker begins with the Clinton administration's decision that it will not sign the present text of the Statute of the International Criminal Court. Yet he believes that the problems with the treaty are solvable ones. The United States takes the treaty seriously. There is political will for the establishment of an International Criminal Court. The speaker recognizes the important role of non-governmental organizations, particularly respecting the issue of crimes against women. Two themes that resulted in the U.S.'s problems were the need to ensure that the treaty did not impede (1) the ability to enforce international peace and security, and (2) the ability of capable nations to enforce human rights. In assessing whether to send military forces into a human rights catastrophe, the matrix of risk must not include a legal risk of prosecution. The Clinton administration has never said that its only focus is the concern that no American ever appear before the Court. The speaker concludes with the announcement that the U.S. would be at the Preparatory Commission meetings. L'auteur, abordant la question du refus de l'administration Clinton de signer le texte actuel du Statut de la Cour penale internationale, demeure convaincu que les problemes souleves par ce texte pourront etre resolus. Les Etats-Unis prennent le traite au serieux, la volonte politique pour l'etablissement d'une Cour penale internationale y est presente, et les organisations non-gouvernementales jouent un role important, particulierement en ce qui concerne la violence contre les femmes. Les objections des Etats-Unis sont essentiellement reliees au besoin d'assurer que le traite ne compromette pas, d'une part, leur capacite a proteger la paix et la securite internationales et, d'autre part, la capacite des nations qui y sont aptes a mettre en application les droits de l'homme sur le plan international. La decision d'intervenir militairement lors d'une catastrophe humanitaire ne doit pas etre soumise a un risque de poursuites legales. L'administration Clinton n'a ainsi pas pour seul objectif de s'assurer qu'ancun Americain ne soit amene a comparaitre devant la Cour. L'auteur conclut en annoncant la presence des Etats-Unis aux travaux de la Commission preparatoire.