The Future of International Justice

Harold Koh, US State Department Legal Advisor, in a speech in New York last month described how the United States is committed to creating a lasting partnership with the International Criminal Court. He stated that “although the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, we share with the States parties a deep and abiding interest in seeing the Court successfully complete the important prosecutions it has already begun.” 

Harold Koh - Zuma Press

However, he pointed out that challenges still remain for the United States and international justice. These include: lingering questions about how the crimes of aggression amendment was adopted, how to best plan for the phase-out of the UN's ad hoc tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, and how ICC States Parties should cooperate to arrest fugitives. He emphasized that addressing these issues will be an integral part of the Obama Administration's agenda.

This statement is another positive note in the developing relationship between the US and the Court. The US is beginning to take positive action to make changes that they believe will benefit both this country and the court as a whole. Koh ended his presentation by emphasizing that “for the U.S. relationship with the International Criminal Court, Kampala…we have much important work now to do to develop that relationship in the months and years ahead.”