What is the International Criminal Court?
The International Criminal Court (ICC), based in The Hague, Netherlands and established on July 1, 2002, is the first permanent court that can promote the rule of law and ensure that the gravest international crimes do not go unpunished. It has the power to prosecute serious crimes against humanity no matter who committed them and try people for gross violations of human rights, such as those committed during military conflicts. A total of 18 judges have been elected of which 7 are women.
How was the International Criminal Court created?
On July 17, 1998, the Rome Statute of the ICC was adopted despite the fact 7 countries, namely the USA, China, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Qatar and Yemen, out of 127 voted against it. Bi-or tri-annual meetings of the United Nations Preparatory Commission for the ICC were held on the subject of the ICC. The Preparatory Commission was responsible for producing a great deal of work on the jurisdiction, structure and functions of the ICC, including a complementary set of rules of procedures and evidence for investigating and prosecuting genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. After receiving 60 ratifications (now 90) by April 11, 2002, the Statute finally came into force on July 1, 2002. Since then governments that have ratified and acceded to the Statute have convened in the Assembly of States Parties which is the governing body responsible for the political, legislative, financial and management oversight of the ICC.
United States and the ICC
What most people have found surprising are the actions of the US to oppose the ICC. Human Rights organisations and social justice groups are outraged at the stance that the US has taken. Their main complaint is that the US signed up just before the December 2000 deadline, allowing it to be a State Party that could participate in decision making about how the Court works even though it opposed the ICC from the start. The Bush Administration then unsigned in May 2002. Secondly, the US threatened to use military force if US nationals were held at The Hague. Thirdly, the US will restrict its participation in United Nations peacekeeping unless it obtains immunity from prosecution. Thus, it is a condition of the United States' participation in the ICC that such participation can be waived by the president on 'national interest' grounds. This can be seen as saying "we will help you bring others to justice, but not us". Finally, the US continues to pressure many countries to sign agreements not to surrender US citizens to the ICC. Some methods they have employed to do so are financial incentives, economic sanctions and the withdrawal of military aid (on July 1, 2003, the Bush Administration cut off military aid to 35 friendly countries). According to some of the agreements, the US may use military force to liberate any American or US allied citizen held by the court in The Hague. Some activists have dubbed this act as the "Hague Invasion Act".
The US has had some success in gaining impunity agreements to date. It has received 79 signatures to Bilateral Immunity Agreements, 36 State Parties have signed, 27 States have received permanent waivers and they have 14 ratifications of Bilateral Immunity Agreements. On the other hand, 58 of 94 State Parties have not signed, 45 of which have publicly refused signing, and 23 have not signed despite loss of US aid.
What work remains to be done to ensure the ICC's effective functioning?
Each nation must cooperate with the ICC in the campaign for universal ratification and effective implementation of the Rome Statute. They must adopt complementary national legislation to allow for national-level prosecutions of the same crimes. Furthermore, like the UN and other independent international institutions, the ICC relies on a separate agreement known as the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities to protect the Court and its personnel. Both State Parties and non-State Parties must ratify this agreement to ensure the safe access of ICC staff to their territory and the unimpeded transfer of evidence, witnesses and other information to and from the Court. While every region of the world is represented amongst ratifying countries, further support is needed from key regions, including Asia and the Middle East.

单选题 Why was the ICC formed?
A. to promote international crimes
B. to make sure offenders of grave crimes receive violent punishment
C. to prosecute, convict and punish people who have committed atrocities
D. to try people for violations of human rights in army battles

单选题 How often were meetings held on the subject of the ICC?
A. the second and third month of each year
B. 2 to 3 times every year
C. 2 to 3 times a month
D. every 2 or 3 years

单选题 Who meets in the Assembly of State Parties?
A. governments who have officially agreed to the Statute
B. 90 ratifications
C. political, legal and finance bodies
D. the ICC

单选题 How do human rights organisations feel about the position of the US?
A. surprised
B. angered
C. standoffish
D. threatened

单选题 What is one of the conditions that the US has demanded?
A. the right to use military force if an American is held at The Hague
B. limited involvement in UN peacekeeping
C. American exemption from prosecution
D. to assist in genocide and war crimes on a global scale

单选题 What was NOT mentioned as a tactic of the US to coerce other nations to side with them?
A. offering money
B. trade embargoes
C. the use of military force
D. sending troops back home

单选题 Why has the US Act been dubbed the "Hague Invasion Act"?
A. It will bring others to justice but not Americans.
B. Military aid will be cut off.
C. The army may use any means necessary to release Americans from The Hague.
D. America can invade countries at will.

单选题 How many countries have sacrificed US support by not signing?
A. 45
B. 58 of 94
C. 23
D. None

填空题 Complete the following summary with words taken from Reading Passage.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
All countries need to agree and work together with the ICC for the Rome Statute to be successfully (36) Each country's (37) needs to be the same for the same crimes. The ICC has a (38) to ensure the well-being of its staff. This is so that evidence, witnesses and other information are (39) to and from the ICC. It is hoped that some (40) will provide a stronger presence.