Since July 2002, the Office of the Prosecutor has received 499 allegations of crimes from 66 different countries. These communications address a broad range of crimes allegedly committed in a number of regions around the world. Almost all of these communications request the Office of the Prosecutor to undertake legal action.
Most of the complaints received cannot be investigated by this Office because they are outside the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. In accordance with the provisions establishing the jurisdiction, the Court may exercise it if genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes are committed on or after 1 July 2002. The jurisdiction of the Court may be triggered by a referral from the United Nations Security Council, a State Party or the Prosecutor exercising his proprio motu powers to initiate an investigation. To this date, there have not been any referrals by the Security Council or by a State.
Among all the allegations, The Office of the Prosecutor has selected the situation in Ituri, Democratic Republic of Congo, as the most urgent situation to be followed. The Office of the Prosecutor has received six communications regarding the situation in Ituri, including two detailed reports from non-governmental organisations. These reports estimate that 5,000 civilians have been killed in Ituri between July 2002 and early 2003. These deaths are just a fraction of the civilians who reportedly have died since the conflict started in 1998. The estimated total number of deaths varies in different reports, ranging between 2.5 and 3.3 million people. The deaths are a consequence of the fighting as well as of indirect causes including starvation, landmines, untreated injuries and diseases (including the transmission of HIV/AIDS through rape).
Although the specific findings of these reports have not been confirmed, the Prosecutor believes that investigation of the financial aspects of the alleged atrocities will be crucial to prevent future crimes and for the prosecution of crimes already committed. If the alleged business practices continue to fuel atrocities, these would not be stopped even if current perpetrators were arrested and prosecuted. The Office of the Prosecutor is establishing whether investigations and prosecutions on the financial side of the alleged atrocities are being carried out in the relevant countries. Read more… (pdf format)
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