IN THE NEWS - International Criminal Court

By Caty Weaver¹
IN THE NEWS -April 13, 2002: International Criminal Court

This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English program In The News.

The world’s first permanent International Criminal Court was established this week. The governments of sixty-
six countries have approved the treaty establishing the court. However, the governments of China, Russia and the
United States have not approved the treaty. The United States strongly opposes the court.

The International Criminal Court will charge and try individuals for very serious human rights
violations². These include crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide. The court will try
suspects only if their own governments are unwilling³ or unable to do so. The treaty is to go into
effect July first. The International Criminal Court will be able to try crimes that are carried out
after that date.

The two existing United Nations courts for Bosnia and Rwanda will continue to try war crimes suspects,
independent of the new court.

The new International Criminal Court will be based in The Hague, the Netherlands. It is expected to begin
operations next year. The nations that approved the treaty will elect eighteen judges to nine-year terms early next
year.

Cases can be brought to the International Criminal Court in three ways. A nation that has approved the treaty can
request that the court investigate a situation. The United Nations Security Council can also request such action.
And, an International Criminal Court lawyer can start an investigation⁴ based on reports from victims and other
people. The court will be able to investigate and try suspects from nations that are not part of the treaty if the
nations permit it.

The International Criminal Court will not be part of the United Nations. The countries that are part of the treaty
will pay the costs of the court.

A ceremony launching the International Criminal Court was held at U-N headquarters in New York City
Thursday. U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan sent a message praising the court. He said countries with good
judicial⁵ systems that carry out the rule of law do not need to fear the court.

Most democratic nations and human rights groups welcomed the action. European nations praised the creation of
the court as the most important action against war criminals this century. They urged the United States, China
and Russia to approve the treaty. The United States signed the International Criminal Court Treaty in Two-
Thousand during the administration of former President Bill Clinton. But Mister Clinton did not seek legislative⁶
approval of the treaty.

However, the administration of President Bush strongly opposes the court. It says the court could lead to unfair
legal action against American officials and soldiers in other countries. The administration says it is considering
cancelling the United States signing of the treaty.

This VOA Special English program In The News was written by Caty Weaver. This is Steve Ember.

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1 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。

2 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

3 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

4 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

5 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

6 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。