UW-Madison students gathered Saturday to listen to the nation's leading international law scholars disseminate the role of the new International Criminal Court.
Lou Ann Bohn, a member of the Wisconsin International Law Journal Symposium Committee, said the purpose of the symposium was to educate and inform people about the ICC.
\Nobody knows what this court is or who can be prosecuted in it,"" she said.
The ICC seeks worldwide justice and the opportunity to try criminals in an international court if their federal government ignores crimes, as is often the case in developing countries, according to Patricia Wald, a former judge on an international court for the former Yugoslavia. Until now, no international court could try any persons for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Wald emphasized the ICC's ability to hold criminals accountable for their actions. She said accountability is important, as it deters others from committing similar crimes.
The ICC will give victims the chance to testify in a formal, respectful setting, according to Wald. She said many victims are denied this in their national courts.
The ICC originated through the United Nations, which officially established the court in 2002. The first set of 18 judges will be inaugurated next week, when the court may begin trying cases.
However, Wald said the ICC must remain conscious of its role. If judges do not account for cultural differences among nations, they will fail. She also said the ICC must remember that laws vary around the world.
Wald said the ICC alone cannot overcome all international criminals.
""The ICC is a piece of a larger movement,"" she said. ""It's part of a network of institutions.""
According to David Scheffer, former U.S. ambassador-at-large for War Crimes Issues, the ICC has received strong support thus far. He said polls show 62 to 65 percent of Americans consistently support it.
Beth Stephens, associate professor of law at Rutgers-Camden School of Law, said many student groups, the United Nations and the American Bar Association all champion the ICC as well.
Among those who oppose the ICC is President Bush, UW-Madison law student Amrit Singh said. Singh himself said he supports the ICC, and the speakers reinforced his opinions.
""Most speakers have been resonating my thoughts,"" he said.
Wald said the criminal court will be beneficial because this type of court results in criminal punishments instead of compensation, unlike civil courts.
""Civil courts put a price on harm,"" Wald said.
