Justice Aluoch: ICC is not fighting African States

By Willis Oketch

International Criminal Court (ICC) judge Justice Joyce Aluoch has denied claims that the court is an international tool of Western states targeting African countries.

"One criticism so often heard about the court is that ICC is a tool of western states targeting African countries. This is unfounded," said Alouch.

The judge said this during the ongoing judge’s meeting in Mombasa while presenting a paper, "ICC perspectives and Experience".

She said ICC is a fully functional court and is engaged in a growing number of cases. She said the United Nations Security Council referred the Kenyan cases to ICC. Thereafter, Aluoch said the Pre-trial Chamber 11 authorised the prosecutor to investigate the situation in Kenya in relation to alleged crimes against humanity.

She said the cases in question were committed between June 2005, and November 2009.

Without peace

She said the ICC was established to fight impunity and seek accountability in every member state.

"There cannot be sustainable peace without justice and justice cannot be pursued without peace," said the judge.

She said achieving peace and justice is the goal of the international criminal justice system and ICC.