French Government Pushes for Loopholes in New Treaty That Could Shield War Criminals

French Government Faces Criticism Over Proposed Weakening of New Treaty on International Legal Cooperation

A proposal put forward by the French government to weaken a proposed new treaty on international legal cooperation in matters of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, which is currently under negotiation at a conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia, has faced criticism from human rights advocates and organizations.

Implications of the French Proposal

If accepted, Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, says the French proposal “could grant states a loophole to avoid prosecuting or extraditing those suspected of crimes under international law. Simply put, this disturbing amendment could let suspected torturers and war criminals off the hook, and even lead to providing them with a safe haven.” This proposal has led to concerns and opposition by human rights organizations who believe that this will undermine the new convention’s intended purpose and the fight for justice and the truth.

The Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of the Crime of Genocide

Government officials from over 77 countries are meeting in Ljubljana from 15-26 May to finalise and adopt a landmark treaty, the Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of the Crime of Genocide, Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes, and other International Crimes. This treaty also called the Mutual Legal Assistance Convention seeks to ensure that governments that have signed the treaty investigate, prosecute and if the accused is found guilty, try them in domestic courts, or hand them over to another country or an international criminal tribunal for trial.

The Risks Posed by the French Proposal

The French proposal, which is supported by several countries including the UK, threatens to dilute the strength of the Convention and contradict existing treaties against torture and enforced disappearances. As Amnesty International notes, it is tantamount to prioritizing politics over justice, leading to a potential slide backwards in international law and the universal fight for justice, truth, and reparation.

Call to Action

Amnesty International has called on all states participating in the conference to compromise the proposed French amendments and to ensure the original text is adopted. By strengthening the Convention, states will not only safeguard the principles of international human rights but also reaffirm their commitments to fight against atrocities such as war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

Conclusion

The fight for human rights is an ongoing battle. Efforts to dilute critical conventions on international cooperation in investigations and prosecutions must not be dismissed. The international community must work together to ensure that justice, truth, and reparation for victims of crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide is maintained and upheld.