Power Play

1. 81 Countries have not signed up to the International Criminal Court including Seven G20 Countries

2. 111 Countries have tortured people or ill treated prisoners

3. 55 Countries have allowed unfair trials (that’s 35% of all countries world wide)

4. 96 Countries do not allow freedom of expression (that’s 60% of all countries worldwide)

"You can imprison a man, but not an idea. You can exile a man, but not an idea. You can kill a man, but not an idea."
-Benazir Bhutto

" The evolution of the human rights movement clearly illustrates humanity's ongoing struggle toward creating a better world."
-Robert Alan

Power Play is a term used in Amnesty International’s 2010 Report on Human Rights. Omar Al Bashir is the first head of state to have an arrest warrant issued for Crimes against Humanity. This was a first major step in ensuring Human Rights but still atrocities continue to happen. Some of the most powerful governments including the United States have not signed up for the International Criminal Court.

I wonder if this is or continues to be the best solution. It seems as though the International Criminal Court would be practically the best solution because it allows the opportunity for justice to run its due course and because the International Criminal Court deals with some of the most difficult and heinous crimes, it seems fitting that a trial and a punishment decision is made. What these leaders are doing is not considered petty, they are large, erroneous errors that impede a country from moving forward.

I wonder how much of a role politics has to play in countries like the United States not moving forward with the International Criminal Court. Are they afraid that it would symbolically look like the country is recognizing a higher court than the supreme court? Do those in the extremely liberal or extremely conservative side not want to be associated with the International Criminal Court? Or possible the International Supreme Court is not a current priority when the United States is working through repairing their International Image in foreign policy and foreign relations?

I wonder the extent to which people are attached to the International Criminal Court. I understand that the idea is too put on a trial and form a judgment if convicted to the head of state but it really only handles a small part of the problem. Sure, people might not have to live under an oppressive regimes or under the exact same law as they lived under during the dictatorship of their country but there is a mental anguish and personality conflict that needs healing. Often cases involve prejudice or some sort of disability or varying factor that impacts how the people living in a country deal with a situation.

For example in South Africa, a Truth and Reconciliation Committee was formed to deal with the healing process in the aftermath of Apartheid being outlawed. There was of course attitudes to curb and reform throughout the Apartheid era and the end of the law did not come with grand trials or justice but with a goal in mind of true healing. Most often times, it is the attitude that is hardest to change and although I would support military trials and the International Criminal Court to punish those that perform the most indecent crimes against humanity, I also believe that a healing process to merge attitudes and transform those in the minority is equally important in making a country successful after the fall of a regime like in South Africa.

There also needs to be a tougher examination of the police video as the video outlines and the report that police continue to perform unlawful killings in Latin American countries. If the police are well trained and fair I believe it would be much easier to transfer power within regimes but the problems in most countries are that the regimes are in charge over the police. Even with Benazir Bhutto, a woman I quoted at the beginning of the article who was a female politician in Pakistan and the first woman to lead a Muslim state. Although as a figurehead she yielded much power and is seen as a progressive from a left centered political party there was much corruption in her government and in her own power. Even with the successes and failures, her assassination marked great sadness for what she was able to do in office in Pakistan.

I watched President Obama address the US people tonight on why the USA is protecting a no-fly zone in Libya. I believe it too be one of his strongest speeches that articulated clearly the goal of peacekeeping, human rights and lawful government. His actions along with other countries that have supported Libya have demonstrated the fight for freedom of expression and fair government but there is a necessity around vigilance that needs to be continued and exercised.

Overall the status of human rights will never be perfect in my opinion. I believe that we have the power to abolish poverty, to educate and feed the world and keep them healthy. Even if all this happens I think we, as citizens will continue to push for positive human rights that will make our world progressive and steadfast. For now we need to ensure that we stand for human rights which means we agree that everyone should have freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial with proper representations and that some of the most vulnerable prisoners are kept safe from torture.

Below is a photo in pop art form about the Day of Silence. Try it. You might be surprised to encounter what it is like to be silent for a day. I have done it a couple times and have learned that Silence although deafening can be very loud.

To Learn More:
http://thereport.amnesty.org/