Justice Richard Goldstone receives honorary degree
Andrew Royal and Josh Wood
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: News
Yet Goldstone believes that awareness of human rights crimes has played an influential role in today's international political scene. "I think the human rights agenda has grown tremendously," he said. "It's become one of the main areas of activity at the United Nations and that's new. International human rights organizations have developed an influence that they never would have dreamed of having ten years ago and are influencing policy within their countries and internationally."
Goldstone also noted that neither the Uganda nor Rwanda tribunals would have been set up if it were not for the United States' financial and political support. However, Goldstone's tone regarding the U.S. changed upon mentioning the Rome conference of 1998. The conference sought to establish a permanent international court. The International Criminal Court, as it were, was nearly unanimously supported, although the U.S. was reluctant to ratify it.
Goldstone characterized the attitude of the incumbent Clinton administration in the following manner: "Let's support the court but let's wait to ratify it." Goldstone said the Bush administration went even further to "undermine the treaty" by effectively "un-signing" it. He attributed this ambivalence towards the court as partly tied to the United States' interests in protecting its military leaders from the court's scrutiny.
Near the end of his talk, Goldstone made clear that the "U.S. cannot be a super power and not assume the responsibility that goes with that position." That is to say, the U.S. has a responsibility to support the effort of universal justice. Taking into account practices such as "waterboarding," Goldstone said that the U.S., a nation that was "once an example of human rights," is now responded to by other countries with a "who are you to talk" attitude.
Although Goldstone is concerned about current U.S. policy, he also expressed optimism about the future; he remarked that three of the current presidential candidates support the International Criminal Court and that he had faith in the good-will of the American people.
Goldstone also noted that neither the Uganda nor Rwanda tribunals would have been set up if it were not for the United States' financial and political support. However, Goldstone's tone regarding the U.S. changed upon mentioning the Rome conference of 1998. The conference sought to establish a permanent international court. The International Criminal Court, as it were, was nearly unanimously supported, although the U.S. was reluctant to ratify it.
Goldstone characterized the attitude of the incumbent Clinton administration in the following manner: "Let's support the court but let's wait to ratify it." Goldstone said the Bush administration went even further to "undermine the treaty" by effectively "un-signing" it. He attributed this ambivalence towards the court as partly tied to the United States' interests in protecting its military leaders from the court's scrutiny.
Near the end of his talk, Goldstone made clear that the "U.S. cannot be a super power and not assume the responsibility that goes with that position." That is to say, the U.S. has a responsibility to support the effort of universal justice. Taking into account practices such as "waterboarding," Goldstone said that the U.S., a nation that was "once an example of human rights," is now responded to by other countries with a "who are you to talk" attitude.
Although Goldstone is concerned about current U.S. policy, he also expressed optimism about the future; he remarked that three of the current presidential candidates support the International Criminal Court and that he had faith in the good-will of the American people.
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