European Union ambassador Mr. Tim Clarke
THE European Union ambassador to Tanzania, Mr. Tim Clarke has underscored the need for civil society organizations in the country to promote human right issues at all costs so as to protect civil strife that engulf many countries leading to loss of human life, particularly children and women as most affected.
Mr. Clarke made the remarks in Dar es Salaam yesterday at a two day civil society organizations sensitization workshop to accelerate the implementation of the Rome Statute on International Criminal Court in Tanzania.
The workshop was organized by Children Education Society (CHESO) in collaboration with ICJ- Kenya and funded by the European Union.
He said EU believes in the promotion and protection of human rights to be a pivotal role of every individual, including civil society organizations (CSOs).
He called on the government, which is the signatory to the Rome Statute of International Criminal Court to domesticate it and start functioning.
The Rome Statute of ICC came into force on July 1, 2002 and four years later, the formal agreement between the EU and the ICC was signed setting out a range of measures to promote co-operation.
The EU ambassador added that on its part, Tanzania promised to adopt specific national measures for implementing the Rome statute and to start contributing to the ICC’s Trust Fund for victims of international crimes, which so far has failed to implement up till now.
“During the Kampala review meeting, the Tanzania government, among other things, promised to present before the parliament by the end of this year a draft law for the adoption of the resolution for ratification of the agreement on the privileged and immunities of the ICC,” Clarke said.
He said as head of the EU delegation and EU ambassador to Tanzania he is obliged to monitor the way in which Tanzania, was implementing the Rome Statute.
The envoy said many communities and individuals which are faced by heinous crimes committed by individuals or their leaders or governments have an opportunity to bring such cases to the ICC.
He failed to understand why several countries have failed to ratify the Rome Statute, despite having signed it for some time now.
He gave the example of Kenya attempted to avoid the jurisdiction of the ICC.
“And similarly, there have been protests from African Union leaders over the arrest warrant issued by the ICC for Sudan’s president Omar El-Basher,” said Mr. Clarke.
He said it was important to note that other than customary international laws, treaties are the primary means by which a state acquires obligations under international law.
According to him, he was happy that Tanzania has signed and ratified the statute.
Speaking later in the meeting, Mr. George Kegoro, International Court of Justice (ICJ)-Kenya, said Africans themselves must demand for justice rather than depend on justice from outside Africa.
Kegoro added that Tanzania must become a model by taking a lead in domesticating the statute, just as it has been a model in preserving peace and justice in the region.
The Executive Director of the Children Education Society (CHESO) Richard Shilamba said children were the main victims of grave crimes committed in violation of the international laws.
Shilamba said that more than 250,000 children are still serving in armed groups around the world.
He added that children are killed and injured and are also the main victims of wars.
“If established, the ICC will accelerate justice for children who are most affected by conflicts especially in African countries,” he noted.
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