From Foreign Policy · Anjali Dayal · · 2m
Trump's War Crimes Accountability Steps
U.S. opposition and allies can hold Trump accountable for war crimes via ICC and UN mechanisms.
In brief
U.S. opposition and allies can hold Trump accountable for war crimes via ICC and UN mechanisms. U.S. opposition and international community can hold Trump accountable for war crimes by joining ICC, supporting UN investigations, and restoring foreign aid. Originally reported by Foreign Policy.
Trump's UN Threats
U.s. president donald trump made explicit threats to use military force in latin america and annihilation of iranian government and people.
“U.s. president donald trump stood in front of the united nations general assembly on sept. 22 and made two explicit threats”
Trump's Legal Violations
trump's actions contravene international laws prohibiting war and humanitarian law protecting civilians in conflict.
“the actions he proposed contravene both the international laws prohibiting war and the international humanitarian law that protects civilians in conflict”
UN Charter Prohibitions
the un charter prohibits even threats of aggression while laws of war prohibit indiscriminate threats against civilian populations.
“the un charter prohibits even threats of aggression, while the laws of war, themselves part of u.s. law, prohibit indiscriminate threats against a civilian population”
Trump's ICC Dismantling
trump administration is dismantling the international criminal court with u.s. secretary of state marco rubio saying 'brick by brick, if necessary'.
“brick by brick, if necessary”
ICE Human Rights Violations
immigration and customs enforcement has caused enforced disappearances and deaths in custody of u.s. citizens and foreign nationals.
“the crime of enforced disappearance by immigration and customs enforcement (ice) against both u.s. citizens and foreign nationals”
ICE Death Toll
epidemiological models show ice has caused six hundred thousand deaths, two-thirds children, with 14 million projected by 2030.
“according to epidemiological models, 'has already caused the deaths of six hundred thousand people, two-thirds of them children,' and by 2030 is projected to result in more than 14 million additional deaths”
Domestic Accountability Steps
democrats can pledge to join the icc when they take office and support it as it faces destruction by trump administration.
“joining the icc, as scholars beth simmons and allison danner argue, allows states moving through violent periods to make credible commitments”
ICC Complementarity
joining the icc does not bar domestic prosecutions as it operates on complementarity principle.
“joining the icc is no bar against domestic prosecutions, since the court operates on the principle of complementarity”
U.S. National Risk
the icc can investigate crimes committed by americans against foreign nationals regardless of u.s. party status.
“the icc can already investigate crimes committed by americans against foreign nationals regardless of whether the u.s. is a party to the icc”
Foreign Sanctions on ICC
trump administration is preparing extensive sanctions against icc including forbidding transactions with the court.
“the trump administration is reportedly preparing an extensive sanctions regime against the icc”
International Sanctions
foreign governments can sanction rubio and trump for obstructing icc investigations into israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu.
“last month, u.s. sen. chris van hollen argued european countries and other signatories to the icc should sanction rubio and trump”
UN Human Rights Bodies
un human rights bodies provide avenues for investigating state treatment of civilians and war crimes.
“the un’s human rights bodies also provide avenues toward subjecting state treatment of civilians to scrutiny”
Syrian Investigation Mechanism
un established international, impartial and independent mechanism to investigate syrian people since 2011.
“in 2016, the un general assembly established the international, impartial and independent mechanism”
Caribbean Boat Strikes
un experts have condemned u.s. boat-bombing campaign in caribbean killing civilians.
“un experts have condemned the killings; highlighted the complex, multilayered nature of the violations”
Domestic Opposition Action
congressional democrats can partner with international experts to investigate u.s. boat-bombing campaign.
“if democrats take the house, investigations into the campaign and the decision-making process will be vital”
Rebuilding Foreign Aid
recommitting u.s. to meaningful foreign aid addresses humanitarian impacts of slashed funding.
“recommitting the u.s. to meaningful foreign aid is a mode of accountability”
The bottom line
U.S. opposition and international community can hold Trump accountable for war crimes by joining ICC, supporting UN investigations, and restoring foreign aid.
