Recently, I attended a conference at the Peace Palace here in the Hague, organized by the Commission on legal empowerment of the poor, where a book called “making the law work for everyone” was launched The commission is co-chaired by Madeleine K. Albright, former United States Secretary of State. It has Gordon Brown, British PM, as a former member as well as several dignitaries. The Commission aims to create legal protection and economic opportunities, especially for the poor.

During the conference, the Mayor of The Hague was quoted saying: “it is in The Hague that it happens, the world’s legal capital”. (Conference, 2009) So, why link the conference with the introduction?

First of all, I really appreciate the initiative of the Commission, and do not intend in any way to critique or undermine its efforts, but as honest as its mission could be, when viewed in the light of recent action by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is also an international organization sitting in the Hague, one doubts the credibility of the court and wonders if the international community has sacred cows.

From an observer stand point, recently the ICC summoned an arrest warrant to the Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir for an allege crime against humanity in Dafur. The question is why Al-Bashir, why Charles Taylor, why Rwanda, why Africa? The answer is Africans need legal empowerment and protection, if the law should be made to work for everyone.

Meanwhile, this is not an approval of the atrocities committed in Africa, the tackles of international atrocities committed by former US president George W. Bush. The war against Iraq could not be justified despite UN’s resolution not to go to that war – nuclear weapons not found. Thousands of widows today in Iraq cannot understand why the whole world has turned against them. Who is to blame?

Similarly, the closure of the prison in Guantanamo Bay by president Barrack Obama is a clear indictment of his predecessor. If Obama has truly found fault and knows who the perpetrator is, then the law should not be selective, he should summon the culprit face the music. Several innocent people were incarcerated without cause, and have no access to justice. Again, this is not an approval of any terrorism that was thoroughly investigated and tracked.

Finally, this is a call for equity to everyone in upholding the rule of law. Everyone should be equal before the law. Therefore, the ICC should issue an arrest warrant to George W. Bush to bring to light the crime he committed against humanity. With this, the ICC will not only be fair, but will also be seen to be fair, culminating to world leaders’ consciousness of accountability, then the Hague will remain the world’s legal capital.

Philip Jehu
+31643973126
The Hague University.