Universal jurisdiction, universal war crimes

99 feminist Israeli, Palestinian and international organizations addressed the British government in demand to maintain universal jurisdiction.

We in the Coalition of Women for Peace, initiated a letter to the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, and to the British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, demanding that they not restrict the principle of universal jurisdiction in the UK. Universal Jurisdiction enables local courts to prosecute foreign war criminals – among them Ehud Olmet, Ehud Barak, Tzipi Livni and other high ranking Israeli officials - who are responsible for the war in Gaza last year.

Following the news on an arrest warrant issued against Livni in Britain, the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called her to express his opposition to the arrest warrant, telling her "you are always welcome in Britain".

What does this mean – an opposition to the arrest warrant? How can you oppose an arrest warrant? It is not a legislative proposal, it is a warrant based on the British law. Does this mean that he believes that there were no crimes committed during the "Cast Lead Operation" in Gaza? Does this mean that even if they were committed, Britain global attention. Yet, the implications of canceling universal jurisdiction will be a true disaster not only for the Middle East, but for the people of the world at large.

Universal jurisdiction is currently our main tool to prosecute war criminals. Their own legal systems are not likely to do so, and international courts and tribunals lack enforcement mechanisms. Universal jurisdiction enabled to trial war criminals from Ruanda, the Balkans, Chile and so on, including those who committed crimes again women.

Clearly the governments are not taking sufficient steps to protect people in their countries, not to mention – other countries. These are the grassroots, the civil society and the human rights organizations and activists who work relentlessly to create accountability of politicians and military generals for the crimes they have committed. Now, one of their only effective tools is in danger.

In December, 99 organizations from 24 countries (among them 20 Israeli and Palestinian organizations) signed the call. Amazing visibility in the Arabic-language media and too little in the Hebrew and English one. Still, some of the articles got through. The British government is probably on Christmas vacation.

Our Press Release: http://www.gaza-eng.coalitionofwomen.org/?p=202

Jerusalem Post: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1261364477126&pagename=JPost/...