International Law & Human Rights
Created in 1989, the PGA International Law and Human Rights (ILHR) Programme promotes the fight against impunity and the establishment, development and consolidation of the Rule of Law at the international and national levels. Since its inception, the ILHR Programme has mainly focused its attention on working all around the world mobilizing parliamentarians to achieve the creation and effective operations of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC, which is aimed at preventing and punishing crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes, is the first significant building block of a more just international legal order founded upon the principle of individual responsibility and equality of all before the law.
Projects of the ILHRP
- PGA ICC Campaign - Priorities 2008-2009
- Fight against Impunity, the Rule of Law, Justice and Reconciliation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
New area of Programme development:
- Human Rights of Persons in Detention (under preparation)
PGA ICC Campaign
The work of PGA on the ICC was initiated in 1989 when the organisation embraced the initiative of one of its most prominent members, H.E. Mr. A.N.R. Robinson, MP, then Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, to support the establishment of a permanent international criminal court as he presented it at the UN General Assembly. PGA Members mobilized themselves in all regions of the world for almost a decade in support of this project, which culminated with the adoption of the Rome Statute of the ICC on 17 July 1998 by an overwhelming majority of UN Member States.
Immediately following the adoption of the Rome Statute, PGA launched a global campaign to mobilize parliamentarians to achieve the target of 60 ratifications needed for the entry into force of the Statute. This result was achieved on 1 July 2002, when Statute entered infor force for its first 66 Member States. PGA members were instrumental to the realization of almost half of these ratification processes, including the ones of Senegal and Ghana, which ratified the Rome Statute in 1999. Read more about the History of the work of PGA on the ICC 1989-today
Today
The entry into force of the Rome Statute on July 1, 2002 brought to reality the promise of an effective international mechanism to prevent impunity. To fulfill the Court's potential, PGA legislators are working together to increase parliamentary action and public support for a universal and effective ICC. The work of PGA with individual legislators from all political parties allows PGA to identify solutions to the problems that impeding the internal adherence to the ICC process.
As of 14 May 2008, the action of these PGA members has contributed to 61 of the 106 ratifications/accessions to the Rome Statute of the ICC. No other institution or organisation has been so intensively engaged in a global parliamentary campaign for the universality of the Rome Statute of the ICC.
The primary goals of PGA ICC Campaign are:
1) To promote universal participation in the ICC, by way of new ratifications and accessions to the Statute of States from all regions of the world;
2) To assist legislators in the preparation and adoption of effective national legislation to implement the Rome Statute in national systems, thus reinforcing the Rule of Law;
3) To protect the integrity of the Rome Statute, promote the enforcement of the decisions of the ICC and boost the international community’s engagement to fighting impunity; and
4) To fight impunity in situations and cases not addressed by the ICC, by reforming, strengthening and financing adequately national justice mechanisms;
In order to achieve these objectives, PGA Members take action on a country-by-country basis and in relevant regional, trans-regional and international institutions. PGA also participates actively in the ongoing international campaign to increase support to the Court’s decisions, such the “Justice for Darfur Campaign”, in particular in supporting the enforcement of outstanding ICC arrest warrants, and ensuring that the upcoming Review Conference of the Rome Statute constitutes a genuine success in reinforcing the important role of the ICC in the international peace and security system.
PGA members, with the support of the PGA Secretariat make use of a number of strategies and means to advance the goals of the ICC Campaign, including, but not limited to:
- Prepare, endorse and promote legislative initiatives on ratification/accession and/or implementation of the Rome Statute;
- Initiate parliamentary questions, motions, resolutions or statements in support of the fight against impunity and the prevention and punishment of atrocities;
- Coordinate and inspire actions of other national institutions and actors, such as national Human Rights Commissions, in cooperation with civil society and other actors;
- Provide information to actors working towards the same goal for more cost-effective and efficient actions in favour of the ICC;
- Hold sessions of the Consultative Assembly of Parliamentarians for the ICC and the Rule of Law, and meetings of its Working Groups
- Participate in consultations and strategic meetings among members of parliament from one or several countries to identify and overcome on obstacles to the ratification/accession and/or implementation of the Rome Statute;
- Conduct visits of Members of Parliament (MPs) from Non-States Parties to the ICC Headquarters in The Hague, in cooperation with the relevant organs of the ICC, and other authorities,
- Engage in parliamentary mission of selected MPs from States Parties to Parliaments of Non-States Parties.
- Maintain within each other ongoing consultations and strategic analysis on the countries where PGA members are active.
- Undertake, when necessary, interventions in the media or public debates on the fight against impunity and/or the ICC.
Coordination
PGA is member of the Steering Committee of the Coalition of NGOs for an International Criminal Court (CICC).
To learn about the work of PGA for 2008-2009 click here
PGA operates in 125 Parliaments in all regions of the world. The PGA Secretariat operates from its New York Headquarters and from the International Justice office/Stichting PGA in The Hague.
In 2008, the work of the ILHR is coordinated by Sen. Marita Perceval from Argentina (Convenor), and Sen. Raynell Andreychuk from Canada and Mr. Naveed Qamar MP from Pakistan (Deputy Convenors)
Contacts:
Dr. David Donat-Cattin, Director-International Law/Human Rights, donat@pgaction.org (The Hague)
Peter Barcroft, Senior Programme Officer, peter.barcroft@pgaction.org (New York)
Deborah Ruiz Verduzco, Programme Officer, Resp.Hague Office, deborah.ruiz@pgaction.org (The Hague)
Tiphanie Crittin, Programme Associate, tiphanie@pgaction.org (New York)
PGA Headquarters – New York
211 E 43rd St. Suite 1604
New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel. +1.212.687.8855 Fax: +1.212.687.8409 Email: Info@pgaction.org
Stichting PGA - The Hague
Laan van Meerdervoort 70
2517 AN, The Hague, Netherlands
Tel. +31.70.360.4433 Fax. +31.70.364.22.55 Email: Stichting@pgaction.org
Donors
The PGA ICC Campaign is supported by the European Commission, and the Governments Belgium, The Netherlands and Switzerland. Additionally, Parliaments and Governments in the countries where PGA operates make specific contributions to activities and initiatives. For 2008, PGA has received the support of the Government of New Zealand, the PGA Japan National Group, the National Assembly of Suriname, and the National Congress of the Dominican Republic.
In the past years, the International Law and Human Rights Programme has also received financial support from the Ford Foundation and the Governments of Canada and the United Kingdom.
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