International Criminal Court (ICC)
Chairs: Andrew Bromberg (andbro@bergen.org) - Kaedyi Chen (kaeche@bergen.org)
Topic Papers:
Topic Paper 1: [PDF], [DOC]
Topic Paper 2: [PDF], [DOC]
Topic Paper 3: [PDF], [DOC]
This year, the International Criminal Court will make its debut at Academy Model United Nations. Formerly the International Court of Justice, the ICC will try three cases critical to international affairs. Unlike other committees, the Court operates under more informal debating procedures, most noticeably without parliamentary procedure. Those with an interest in law, decision-making on tough political issues, frequent speaking opportunities, or the ICC, itself, will enjoy this committee at the 2008 conference.
The cases put before the justices of the Court are a combination of real-life scenarios and adaptations on current struggles. The docket of the ICC begins with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, where President Slobodan Milosevic has been charged with crimes against humanity. Also being charged with crimes against humanity is the United Nations for its support of abortion rights. This case was brought before the ICC by the United States, which has requested that the Court define abortion as a form of "state-sponsored murder" and bar the act in all member nations. The final case on the docket regards the International Criminal Tribunal for Crimes in the War on Terror. On trial is U.S. President George W. Bush for war crimes committed at such locations as Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay.