Rights group criticizes South Africa withdrawal from ICC News
Rights group criticizes South Africa withdrawal from ICC

Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] criticized South Africa [press release] Monday for its decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) [official website]. The rights group called the move a blow to the country’s post-apartheid reconstruction and the country’s stated commitment to justice for atrocity crimes. Richard Dicker, International Justice director at HRW said:

South Africa’s withdrawal would be a huge reversal of its role as a leader promoting victims’ rights and the values in its post-apartheid constitution. It’s also unclear whether the South African government followed its own laws, not least because it did not consult parliament.

South African Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane announced Friday that South Africa had submitted a notice to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon alerting the UN of the country’s intent to withdraw from the ICC [JURIST report].

Earlier this month Burundi similarly voted [JURIST report] to withdraw from the ICC amid criticism the court only prosecutes African nationals. Vice President Gaston Sindimwo of Burundi previously announced [JURIST report] the country’s decision to withdraw from the ICC, stating that his government is “ready to face the consequences.” Earlier this month the ICC president stated [JURIST report] that such a withdrawal “represent[s] a setback in the fight against impunity and the efforts towards the objective of universality of the Statute.” Last July an African Union (AU) [official website] advisory board accused [JURIST report] the ICC of narrowly focusing its investigations on African government leaders and recommended that African nations consider withdrawing their membership. Should South Africa and Burundi follow through with their recent decisions, they will be the first countries to officially leave the ICC. Kenya has also expressed its intention to move forward with withdrawal.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Justice Department brings anit-trust action against AT&T

On November 20, 1974, the Department of Justice filed its final anti-trust suit against AT&T. United States v. AT&T was ultimately settled out of court with an agreement that the corporation would break up its monopoly on phone service throughout the country.

Nuremberg war crimes trials began

On November 20, 1945, the war crimes trials of Nazi World War II leaders began in the German city of Nuremberg. Review the Nuremberg Tribunal's Charter and the verdicts and sentences handed down on major war figures.

Winston Churchill born

On November 20, 1874, Sir Winston Churchill was born in Woodstock, England. He would go on to lead the United Kingdom as Prime Minister through World War II. Toward the end of the war, Churchill worked with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt to craft the treaties and accords that have defined the world since WWII. A 2002 poll by the BBC declared Churchill the Greatest Briton of all time.

New Jersey ratifies Bill of Rights

New Jersey ratified the Bill of Rights, a set of 10 fundamental amendments to the US Constitution, on November 20, 1789, becoming the first state to do so. The state also ratified an amendment on federal representation which ultimately failed. Additionally, New Jersey rejected an amendment on congressional salaries, which would eventually become the 27th Amendment more than 200 years later. Read the articles ratified by New Jersey.