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Summarized by Rosemary Pollock
BYU's World Family Policy Center Cautious About New International Court
BYU's World Family Policy Center Cautious About New International Court
NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- Cautious optimism is what Richard Wilkins of
Brigham Young University Law School and head of the BYU-based World
Family Policy Center, hopes for as the new International Criminal
Court (ICC) will not be able to advance or enforce abortion rights.
Last week, government negotiators, who have been meeting since the
summer of 1998, finished the most contentious parts of the statutes
that will bring into existence the world's first permanent
Nuremberg-style criminal court.
"This court claims for itself jursidiction over every person on earth,"
said Wilkins. "This make it an organ of international government. That is
new and very dangerous." The ICC will come into existence after 60 nations
ratify it. Thirteen nations have already agreed. An aggresive and well
funded campaign is under way by the World Federalist Society, lead by
William Pace.
Pro-life lobbyists have been concerned that the new court will introduce
radical changes. The biggest area of concern is reproductive rights, which
according to UN agencies includes access to abortion. Concern has continued
to grow as influence from the Women's Caucus for Gender Justice, expanding
their influence. The Women's Caucus is a coalition of radical feminist
non-government organizations (NGO's).
The longest running battle has come over the term "forced pregnancy."
Introduced more than a year ago, this term is interpreted by feminists to
mean repeated rape and confinement for the purposes of ethnic cleansing.
Pro-lifers cited the term in a 1991 Utah court case to mean that a woman
could not get an abortion. It is feared that without a narrow definition
the court would be forced to change national abortion laws.
Another hotly debated topic is the role of a victim in the prosecutions.
Radicals hope that the victim could become party to the prosecution, other
than appear only as a witness, and thereby receive court ordered financial
awards.
Conservatives remain deeply skeptical that the new court will retain the
best interest of individual liberties and national sovereignty.
Source:
New International Court Nears Reality
Pro-Lifers Claim Small Victories
EWTN News 7Jul00 D2
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