Aegis Trust

A Conservative Government must strengthen the International Criminal Court, says new report.

The Conservative Party's Human Rights Commission has urged a future Conservative government to reinforce the International Criminal Court, at the same time as strengthening the United Kingdom's own laws on international crimes.

In a report on 16th March, the Commission also recommends the appointment of a Human Rights Minister, to oversee human rights work within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the appointment of a number of ambassadors with specific responsibility for human rights themes. An annual debate on international human rights should be held on the floor of the House of Commons.

The report, titled Those Who Bear The Greatest Responsibility, was the work of an inquiry held by the Commission into crimes against humanity, war crimes and the Responsibility to Protect principle. The inquiry, chaired by Sir Desmond de Silva QC, former Chief Prosecutor at the UN-backed tribunal in Sierra Leone, heard evidence from groups including the Aegis Trust, Human Rights Watch, the Medical Foundation for Victims of Torture and the Henry Jackson Society.  It focuses largely on the recommendations made in Aegis' 2009 report: 'Enforcement of International Criminal Law'.