The ICC has been criticised for not acting against South Africa after it failed to arrest Sudan’s president in 2015. But, the court actually acted sensibly given the challenges it faces.
French President Francois Hollande delivers a speech acknowledging the ordeals of former French colonies.
Yoan Valat/Reuters
Arguably Africa’s most powerful diplomatic player, South Africa is now backing out of the world’s most important mechanism for bringing war criminals to justice.
Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir during a rally against the ICC.
Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/Reuters
The South African government’s decision to withdraw from the ICC should not be seen in isolation. The African Union has called on its member states to withdraw from the court.
Former Chadian dictator Hissène Habré at his trial in Senegal for crimes against humanity.
EPA
The trial of Chad’s former dictator could provide a template for prosecutions of other African despots. Its success could be seen as a victory for African justice over international approaches.
In Egypt, the Great Pyramid was illuminated with the French, Russian and Lebanese flags in solidarity with victims of terrorist attacks, but most of the focus in the West has been on the victims in Paris.
EPA/Khaled Elfiqi
Selective sympathy raises troubling questions. If you neglect suffering in other places, it is much more difficult to mobilise political actors to take it seriously.
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma being welcomed on his arrival in Khartoum by Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir earlier this year.
Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
South Africa’s withdrawal from the ICC could have mere symbolic value. The country will continue to have obligations to binding decisions taken by the UN Security Council – including those pertaining to the court.
Sudan’s President Omar Hassan al-Bashir addresses members of the UN Security Council in Khartoum in 2008.
Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Omar al-Bashir’s planned trip to New York to address a summit on sustainable development at the UN General Assembly involves considerable reputational risk for the US.
Former Chadian leader Hissène Habré reacts as he is escorted by Senegalese police into the Palais de Justice in Dakar, Senegal, on July 20. He is accused of crimes against humanity and mass murder.
EPA
Former Chadian President Hissène Habré’s disruption of his trial, questioning its authority over him, is a tried and tested defence strategy used by revolutionaries and rulers for eons.
Does relentlessly criticising Australia’s human rights record risk doing more harm than good?
Courntey Biggs/AAP
Australia’s human rights record isn’t perfect, but it still good. if Australians aren’t able to take some pride in that and be inspired to do even better, over-the-top criticism could backfire.
Notorious: Mathieu Ngudjolo, who awaits the ICC’s latest verdict.
EPA/Tugela Ridley
Justice for victims and an end to impunity for international crimes was what the the International Criminal Court (ICC) was established to do achieve. While the court has over ten years of experience…
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta at the International Criminal Court in The Hague yesterday. He has been accused of organising mass ethnic violence.
EPA/PETER DE JONG
The first appearance of a head of state at the International Criminal Court at The Hague yesterday was a landmark event. But instead of getting any closer to the truth about who was behind violence that…
Co-Director, Institute for Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention, and Professor of Public Administration, Binghamton University, State University of New York