On the occasion of formation of the International Criminal Court (ICC), MEHR Foundation has organized an event in

Kanoon-e Sokhan in Los Angeles. The Speakers and topics of discussions are:

1.      Sean Butler, Secretary of the International Criminal Court Alliance

“The Role of the International Criminal Court in dealing with the Crimes Against Humanity”

2.      Mohammad Parvin, MEHR Iran

“ Seeking Justice for the Victims of Islamic Regime and the Role of the Iranian Expatriates in Helping the Struggle of Iranian People for Freedom and Democracy” 

Place:

Community Room

3^rd Floor of Santa Monica Mall

Intersection of Broadway and 4^th Street

Los Angeles, Santa Monica

 

Date & Time:

7:00 PM, Monday July 1, 2002

 

The Persian version of this announcement is attached.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) will come into existence on July 1. A long-cherished dream of human rights campaigners, it will be able, to bring prosecutions against world leaders, army officers and others thought responsible for war crimes or crimes against humanity.

It was the appealing nature of the ICC that instigated the formation of MEHR Iran five years ago. MEHR has been an active participant in the Coalition of International Criminal Court in Southern California since its inception.

ICC powers will not be retrospective, so it will be able to act only on human rights abuses committed after July 1. Because of this limitation, MEHR Iran has been seeking justice for the victims of the Islamic Regime of Iran through other existing International avenues that have universal jurisdiction over crimes against humanity. In spite of our very limited resources, we will hopefully bring our first suite against the perpetrators soon with the help of an International Law Center in California.  

Background information:

An international criminal court able to prosecute human rights abusers anywhere in the world became a reality on April 11, 2002, despite the fierce opposition of the United States. Seven nations ratified the pact, bringing the total to 66, six more than needed.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) will come into existence on July 1. A long-cherished dream of human rights campaigners, it will be able, to bring prosecutions against world leaders, army officers and others thought responsible for war crimes or crimes against humanity.

Temporary courts have been established in the past to deal with Nazi war crimes, Balkan ethnic cleansing and genocide in Rwanda, but the ICC will be a permanent court. Its powers will not be retrospective, so it will be able to act only on human rights abuses committed after July 1.

The ICC will be based in The Hague, and those it convicts can be held in prisons in any of the signatory states.

For a case to be eligible for the court it will have to have occurred in one of the ratifying countries or been committed by one of their nationals. Crimes such as torture, rape, persecution and disappearances will qualify, but only when part of a widespread
attack on civilians.

The prosecutor can decide when to intervene, or can react to complaints against a state or individual or a request from the UN Security Council. The prosecutor will only intervene in cases where the legal system in a country is judged suspect, either because its court system is incapable or because its government is considered to be obstructing justice.

For more information, please check the following documents:

1- Creation of International Criminal Court 

     (A collection of New Articles and Background Information

2- The Rome Statute Signature & Ratification Chart

3- Country-by-Country Ratification Status Report