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NGOs at ICC:

Flotilla deaths latest in Israeli criminal acts

Published today (updated) 03/06/2010 12:23

Bethlehem - Ma'an -

International NGOs gathered in Kampala, Uganda for the International Criminal Court Review Conference, rallied together and issued a joint call for an "end to impunity" for Israel following its attack on the Freedom Flotilla.

In the statement, issued on Wednesday, NGO representatives said they were "shocked by Israel’s killing and injury of civilians carrying humanitarian supplies to Gaza," and called on the international community "to immediately take all appropriate measures in response to this unacceptable violence."

Signed by 33 high-profile organizations from around the globe, the group called the death of at least 10 passengers aboard the aid flotilla a tragedy, that was the "result of the prolonged impunity granted to Israel by the international community, despite Israel's documented, persistent disregard for international and humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and its violation of fundamental human rights, including the right to life."

The UN and the UN Human Rights Committee area both awaiting findings of an internal Israeli investigation into allegations by justice Richard Goldstone, dispatched by the international body to investigate allegations of war crimes. Goldstone's report found the allegations credible, and recommended that internal probes be completed by Israel and Hamas. If the governments are unable to complete appropriate investigations, Goldstone recommended the matter be handed over to the ICC.

In their statement, the review conference participant NGOs said Israel's latest actions, in addition to earlier actions "entail criminal responsibility; however, so far no concrete action has been taken and impunity is a long standing feature of Israel's illegal occupation policy."

Citing Goldstone's UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, the NGOs noted that the "prolonged situation of impunity has created a justice crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory that warrants action.”"

The statement noted that "It is a self evident truth that law becomes meaningless if not enforced."

Signatories include:

Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)

International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH)

Centre for Constitutional Rights (CCR, USA)

Turkish Coalition for the ICC

Track Impunity Always (TRIAL)

Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists

Gender Justice Initiative

Fondazione Internazionale Lelio Basso (Italy)

Cairo Institute for Human Rights

University College Dublin, (Ireland)

Africa Freedom of Information Centre

Uganda Joint Christian Council

Human Rights Network – Uganda

Uganda Women and Children Organisation (UWCO)

Hope After Rape (HAR, Uganda)

Disabled Women’s Network & Resource Organisation in Uganda (DWMRO)

Cameroon Coalition for Human Rights

Iranian Islamic Human Rights Commission

Kituo Cha Sheria (Kenya)

Coalition for Justice and Accountability (Sierra Leone)

Colombian Comission of Jurists

Network Movement for Democracy Human Rights (NMDHR, Sierra Leone)

Mexican Commission for the Defense and Promotion of Human Rights

Indonesian Civil Society Coalition for the ICC (ICSLCC)

Ligue pour la Paix et les Droits de l’Homme (LIPADHO, DRC)

Synergie des ONG’s Congolaise pour les Victimes (SYCOVI, DRC)

Femme pour la Paix, le Developpement et les Droit de l’Homme (DRC)

Sierra Leone Coalition for the ICC

Association Espanola De Derecho International De Derechos Humanos (AEDIDH)

Justice Without Frontiers

Lebanese Centre for International Law and Human Rights

La Coalition Marocain Pour La Cour Penal Internationale

Institute for Justice and Reconciliation

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