Unfinished business

Human Rights Watch assesses the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor's selection of cases in the court's first five investigations. It finds that significant gaps remain in delivering on the ICC's mandate in each country. In some countries, the absence of such strategies has undermined perceptions of the ICC's independence and impartiality. It concludes with recommendations to the ICC Office of the Prosecutor.

"In December 2011, International Criminal Court (ICC) member countries will elect the court's next prosecutor. The court's first prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, has made hard-won progress since taking office in June 2003. Investigations in Central African Republic, Darfur, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Libya, and Uganda have yielded arrest warrants for 17 individuals and summonses for nine others. In August 2011, closing arguments were heard in the court's first trial and trials are ongoing in two additional cases. The ICC's investigations and prosecutions, however, have failed to demonstrate coherent and effective strategies for delivering justice. In Unfinished Business, Human Rights Watch draws on its country expertise and close monitoring of the ICC to assess the prosecutor's selection of cases in the court's first five investigations. It concludes that significant gaps remain in delivering on the ICC's mandate in each country. In some countries, the absence of such strategies has undermined perceptions of the ICC's independence and impartiality. The report makes recommendations to the Office of the Prosecutor to close key gaps. Putting these recommendations into practice will take time, posing a particular challenge in the context of heightened demand for justice around the world. Human Rights Watch calls on ICC member countries to ensure that the court has the resources and support it needs to meet existing and new demands"--P. [4] of cover.