Suchergebnisse

SummaryThe adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court on July 17, 1998, was an historic achievement culminating decades of efforts to establish a permanent body to bring to justice those responsible for the most serious international crimes. The Bureau of the Committee of the Whole of the Conference played a leading role in forging the final package that was overwhelmingly endorsed by the Conference. In developing this package, the Bureau went to considerable lengths to consult delegations and members of civil society and to accommodate the concerns of the vast majority of participants at the Rome Conference. The Rome Statute is a carefully crafted instrument balancing complex legal and policy concerns and fully consistent with the norms and standards of international law. The successful outcome of the Rome Conference was due to the recognition that this balanced approach was timely and appropriate. The credit for the achievement of this seminal moment in history is shared by the commitment of a core group of states, the so-called Like-Minded Group, the dedication of a number of ministers and delegates to the goal, and the strong, vocal, and committed support of members of civil society.

The object of this paper is to describe the negotiating process during the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court. It is told from the perspective of those that were ex officio at the center of negotiations, as members of the Bureau of the Committee of the Whole (CW).1 It describes the main issues under consideration at the conference and the evolution of the negotiations, including an inside view of the development of the final package containing the principal elements of the statute of the court.