Date Of Article: 18/07/2002
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Malawi celebratesWorld Justice Day
By: Hope Musukwa
Civil Liberties Committee (Cilic) executive director Emmie Chanika has said Malawi should ratify the International Criminal Court (ICC) treaty to show commitment to the first ever world criminal tribunal. Chanika told the press in Blantyre yesterday, the World Day for International Justice, that the signature alone was not enough, explaining that Malawi stands to benefit more if it ratified the court’s treaty. Malawi signed the ICC treaty in 1999 but still needs to ratify and implement the document to enjoy full membership. “There is a difference between signing and ratifying. If Malawi ratifies the treaty, our judges will stand a chance to be appointed to the international court,” said Chanika. Chanika is also a member of the Coalition for International Criminal Court (CICC) a network of over 1,000 civil society organisations. It is an informal network of nongovern-mental organisations (NGOS) and individuals working together to support the creation of a permanent, fair and an independent ICC. The network was established in 1995 and is the leading source of information regarding the ICC and other regional organisations that support the court’s formation. Chanika, reading from a fact sheet on CICC said: “Numerous efforts to provide justice and redress for the most unspeakable acts of inhumanity have brought forth an increasingly powerful international justice mechanism from the International Court of Justice. ICC ad hoc tribunals have already been set up in Rwanda and former Yugoslavia to handle genocide suspects from the two countries. The magnitude of atrocities in Rwanda and Yugoslavia has prompted the international community to come up with an international criminal court to try the suspects. The court started operating on July 1. Chanika called on government to take the court seriously to preempt those who would be willing to initiate genocide in the country. She said by ratifying the ICC treaty, Malawi will be making available its judicial, prison and all democratic institutions at the international community’s disposal for transparency and accountability. Chanika said 139 countries have signed the court’s treaty and 80 states have ratified the document. The US is resisting to ratify the treaty arguing it will discriminate against its service men engaged in overseas missions.
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