Topic: Universal Jurisdiction in Crimes against Humanity
Country: Qatar
Delegate Name: Julia Heenan
School: Royal Oak High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Qatar position papers GLIMUN 2011 committees
Universal jurisdiction is international law that allows the courts to have power over people whose crimes were committed outside their home country. The home country supports the claim or charge, meaning the crime committed is to be considered a crime against all people, and the criminal’s punishment is authorized to every country. The criminals are tried in the international criminal court (ICC) which deals with war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. Its judgment is based on the Rome Statute. The Rome Statute was influenced by the Nuremberg trials of 1945. The trials initiated various treaties that led to the drafting of the Rome Statute; the document wasn’t finished until July 17, 1998.
Qatar is one of seven countries that didn’t vote in favor of the Rome Statute jurisdictions. The other countries include Iraq, Israel, Libya, People's Republic of China, the United States, and Yemen. We deny support the Roman Statute because of several factors. Justice, which is defined by the Court and Prosecutor, doesn’t necessarily always have to be consistent with resolutions for major political and military arguments. Also the ICC’s work could conflict with the Council’s work. Lastly we can’t ensure that ICC's officials will remain free of corruption. Unfortunately a crime vs. humanity is a case meant for the ICC, an organization we don’t support.
As defined by the Rome Statute crimes against humanity are particularly odious offenses in that they constitute a serious attack on human dignity or grave humiliation or a degradation of one or more human beings. The serious attacks involve instances like murder; extermination; enslavement and many more serious injuries to either mental or physical health. We believe the instigators of these crimes should be punished but we do not have faith in the system currently in place.
Qatar would like to suggest an amendment to the Rome Statute so that the ICC would have a system of checks and balances in place so as to keep it free of corruption. Any amendment to the Rome Statute requires the support of a two-thirds majority of the states parties. With adjustments, the nation of Qatar would agree to ratify the Rome Statute, allowing universal jurisdiction, and we would provide our countries support during cases of crimes against humanity.
