the faith based caucus for the international criminal court
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The Faith Based Caucus for The Faith Based Caucus for the the
International Criminal Court International Criminal Court
The Faith Based Caucus The Faith Based Caucus
The Faith-Based Caucus for the International Criminal Court The Faith-Based Caucus for the International Criminal Court is a coalition of religious and interfaith NGOs that promotes is a coalition of religious and interfaith NGOs that promotes the ICC by disseminating information and promoting the ICC by disseminating information and promoting programs about the Court to their respective religious, programs about the Court to their respective religious, ethics and faith-based communities, and by advocating for ethics and faith-based communities, and by advocating for the ratification of the Court by countries throughout the the ratification of the Court by countries throughout the world. world.
The caucus is co-sponsored by the International Coalition The caucus is co-sponsored by the International Coalition for the ICC (CICC) and the American NGO Coalition for the for the ICC (CICC) and the American NGO Coalition for the ICC (AMICC).ICC (AMICC).
Current Membership Current Membership American Jewish Committee/ Jacob Blaustein Institute for the American Jewish Committee/ Jacob Blaustein Institute for the
Advancement of Human RightsAdvancement of Human RightsAmerican Humanist AssociationAmerican Humanist AssociationBaha‘i’s of the United States Baha‘i’s of the United States Church World Service Church World Service Evangelical Lutheran Church in AmericaEvangelical Lutheran Church in AmericaFellowship of Reconciliation Fellowship of Reconciliation Loretto Community Loretto Community Maryknoll Office for Global Concern Maryknoll Office for Global Concern National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA The National Service Conference of the American Ethical Union The National Service Conference of the American Ethical Union Presbyterian Church, USAPresbyterian Church, USASoka Gakkai International Soka Gakkai International Temple of Understanding Temple of Understanding Unitarian Universalist Association Unitarian Universalist Association United Methodist ChurchUnited Methodist ChurchWorld Council of Churches World Council of Churches
Why the International Criminal Why the International Criminal Court?Court?
The International Criminal Court fights against human injustice and evil The International Criminal Court fights against human injustice and evil through rule of law, which is an essential prerequisite to promoting long-through rule of law, which is an essential prerequisite to promoting long-term peace building and to reconciling peoples and communities term peace building and to reconciling peoples and communities devastated by violent conflict. devastated by violent conflict.
The prime objective of the ICC is not only punishment ( or retributive The prime objective of the ICC is not only punishment ( or retributive justice), but also rehabilitation, protection, compensation, and restitution justice), but also rehabilitation, protection, compensation, and restitution for the offended, or what theologians in the Christian tradition have for the offended, or what theologians in the Christian tradition have described as restorative justice. described as restorative justice.
This includes looking at the moral, political and ethical dimensions of This includes looking at the moral, political and ethical dimensions of impunity, the individual and collective healing of society, including the impunity, the individual and collective healing of society, including the rehabilitation of both victims and perpetrators, and the relationship rehabilitation of both victims and perpetrators, and the relationship between confession, repentance, compensation and forgiveness. between confession, repentance, compensation and forgiveness.
The International Criminal Court will provide an international judicial The International Criminal Court will provide an international judicial instrument capable of fulfilling the relevant concerns of the United Nations instrument capable of fulfilling the relevant concerns of the United Nations Charter, the International Bill of Human Rights, the Genocide Convention, Charter, the International Bill of Human Rights, the Genocide Convention, as well as other United Nations Conventions for justice and peace. as well as other United Nations Conventions for justice and peace.
Caucus Objectives Caucus Objectives
1.1. Promote education and awareness of the mission, membership Promote education and awareness of the mission, membership and objectives of the Faith Based Caucus to faith-based and objectives of the Faith Based Caucus to faith-based constituencies, elected officials, media and the general public. constituencies, elected officials, media and the general public.
2.2. Promote education and awareness of the ICC and the Rome Promote education and awareness of the ICC and the Rome Statute within respective religious, ethics and faith-based Statute within respective religious, ethics and faith-based communitiescommunities
3.3. Promote NGO partnership with ICC to further the responsibility, Promote NGO partnership with ICC to further the responsibility, rehabilitation and healing of victims, perpetrators and society. rehabilitation and healing of victims, perpetrators and society.
4.4. Research and disseminate information about religious liberty Research and disseminate information about religious liberty and persecution issues as it relates to the Rome Statute. and persecution issues as it relates to the Rome Statute. Explore the relationship between confession, repentance, Explore the relationship between confession, repentance, compensation and forgiveness, including the moral imperatives compensation and forgiveness, including the moral imperatives of retributive and restorative justice. of retributive and restorative justice.
Objective 1: Objective 1: Promote education and awareness of the Promote education and awareness of the
mission, membership and objectives of the mission, membership and objectives of the Faith Based Caucus to faith-based Faith Based Caucus to faith-based
constituencies, elected officials, constituencies, elected officials, media and general public.media and general public.
Increase and diversify membership of the Caucus Increase and diversify membership of the Caucus Establish faith based caucuses in The Hague, Washington DCEstablish faith based caucuses in The Hague, Washington DC Publish advocacy ad Publish advocacy ad Continue to develop caucus web site Continue to develop caucus web site
Objective 2: Objective 2: Promote education and awareness of the Promote education and awareness of the ICC and Rome Statute within respective ICC and Rome Statute within respective religious, ethics and faith-based caucusreligious, ethics and faith-based caucus
Encourage each caucus NGO to develop an education and Encourage each caucus NGO to develop an education and advocacy strategy to implement within their own community. advocacy strategy to implement within their own community.
Continue to develop ICC materials for distribution within faith Continue to develop ICC materials for distribution within faith based communities, including:based communities, including: Encourage adoption of statements and resolutions in support of ICC. Encourage adoption of statements and resolutions in support of ICC. Create curricula to educate constituencies about ICC. Create curricula to educate constituencies about ICC. Distribute ICC brochures for other faith constituencies, including Baha'i, Distribute ICC brochures for other faith constituencies, including Baha'i,
Buddhist, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim communities Buddhist, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim communities Distribute Sabbath observances. Distribute Sabbath observances.
Promote the Victims Trust Fund Campaign Promote the Victims Trust Fund Campaign Promote local congregational participation in AMICC local Promote local congregational participation in AMICC local
alliances. alliances. Link caucus web site to denominational web sites. Link caucus web site to denominational web sites.
Objective 3: Objective 3: Promote NGO partnerships with ICC to Promote NGO partnerships with ICC to
further the reconciliation, rehabilitation and further the reconciliation, rehabilitation and healing of victims, perpetrators and societyhealing of victims, perpetrators and society
Promote the establishment of the Centre for Justice and Promote the establishment of the Centre for Justice and Reconciliation in The Hague Reconciliation in The Hague
Help NGOs present religious persecution cases to the Court.Help NGOs present religious persecution cases to the Court. Encourage religious groups to sponsor victims called to testify to Encourage religious groups to sponsor victims called to testify to
the ICC. the ICC. Develop seminars in New York and/or The Hague on religious Develop seminars in New York and/or The Hague on religious
liberty & persecution issues for ICC Judges, prosecutors and staff.liberty & persecution issues for ICC Judges, prosecutors and staff. Develop working relationship with ICC Victims and Witnesses Unit. Develop working relationship with ICC Victims and Witnesses Unit. Promote proposed April 2004 UN Fundraiser for Victims Trust Fund Promote proposed April 2004 UN Fundraiser for Victims Trust Fund
by Victims Rights Working Group. by Victims Rights Working Group.
Objective 4: Objective 4: Research and disseminate legal and theological analysis Research and disseminate legal and theological analysis religious liberty and persecution issues as it relates to the religious liberty and persecution issues as it relates to the
Rome Statute. Explore the relationship between confession, Rome Statute. Explore the relationship between confession, repentance, compensation and forgiveness, including the repentance, compensation and forgiveness, including the
moral imperatives of retributive and restorative justice.moral imperatives of retributive and restorative justice.
Organize proposed Fall 2003 conference/seminar on the Rome Organize proposed Fall 2003 conference/seminar on the Rome Statute and religious liberty/persecution issues at Columbia Statute and religious liberty/persecution issues at Columbia University Law University Law
Post on caucus web site relevant theological articles that examine Post on caucus web site relevant theological articles that examine the moral imperatives of the Courtthe moral imperatives of the Court
Contact theological seminaries and relevant academic Contact theological seminaries and relevant academic departments. departments.
For More Information on the Faith Based Caucus:
Website: http://www.amicc.org/faith.html
Jeffery Huffines, Co-Chair CICC/AMICC Faith-Based Caucus 866 UN Plaza, Suite 120New York, NY 10017Tel.: 212-803-2500E-mail: [email protected]
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