Prosecution Of Genocide And Crimes Against Humanity

EDM number 1477 in 2008-09, proposed by Evan Harris on 12/05/2009.
Categorised under the topics of Human rights and International law.

That this House is concerned that there are people in the UK who are suspected of committing crimes against humanity, war crimes or genocide; notes that, because of gaps in UK law, four Rwandans who are suspected of having committed genocide in 1994 cannot be prosecuted in the UK for such crimes; further notes that the four have now been released from custody after winning their appeal in the High Court against extradition to Rwanda; further notes that suspected war criminals from other conflicts are also present in the UK; further notes that these suspects cannot be tried in UK courts because of limitations to the International Criminal Court Act 2001; further notes with concern that the 2001 Act does not apply to suspects if they committed the crime before 2001 or if they are present, but not resident in the UK; further notes that this position is in contrast to the position of the crimes of torture and hostage taking, which are fully prosecutable in UK courts; believes that these gaps in the law lack moral logic; and therefore urges the Government to bring forward proposals to amend the 2001 Act to enable suspects who are present without being resident in the UK and who are suspected of committing genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity before 2001 to be prosecuted in the UK courts, to ensure that the UK does not become a safe haven for war criminals.

This motion has been signed by a total of 135 MPs, 2 of these signatures have been withdrawn.