Currently, the United States of America has never taken all necessary steps to fully sign on to partnership with the International Criminal Court.

The American people need to tell our elected leaders we want global accountability and we're determined to show our commitment to the protection of human rights at home and around the world.

The United States cannot lead effectively if we provide support or welcome for anyone charged with war crimes. 

And if you live in the U.S., it's in your best interest for any American (leader or individual) to be subject to prosecution for potential war crimes or crimes against humanity they may be charged with.

Full engagement with the International Criminal Court will keep Americans aware of our responsibility to champion human rights and respect life.

The International Criminal Court was founded in the late 1990s to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity. As the International Red Cross points out, sexual violence in conflict zones is also a war crime.

The ICC is also a potential deterrent for war crimes, since individuals know they may be held accountable externally even if internal bodies fail to seek justice.

Furthermore, individuals who are charged by the ICC with war crimes can be arrested if they enter ICC member nations.

But currently, without full ICC membership, anyone charged with war crimes can only be brought to trial at the ICC if the UN Security Council recommends them.

This makes Americans and others more vulnerable to unjust violence, misuse of power, and erosion of human rights. Where there is lack of multilateral accountability, everyone is less safe.

The U.S. is party to the International Court of Justice, but it is the ICC that prosecutes war crimes and crimes against humanity, including crimes of sexual violence in zones of war and conflict.

Joining the ICC does not give it unlimited power: it's designed to be a "last resort," respecting the autonomy of member nations.

As one ICC advocacy website states, "The ICC is designed to be a 'court of last resort,' leaving the primary responsibility of exercising jurisdiction over alleged perpetrators to national legal systems. The ICC can only act when states [nations] are unwilling or unable to exercise their own jurisdiction."

Speak up for yourself, speak up for others: press members of Congress to join bipartisan action now!

We The People are telling Congress to pursue swift, proactive, bipartisan action that signals the eager willingness of Americans to take all necessary steps to sign onto, ratify, and accede to the Rome Statute/International Criminal Court.

We The People are telling Congress to act with or without the support of the current or future incumbents of the executive branch.

We The People are telling Congress to prioritize this action as critical, before any budget blueprints are considered.

We The People sign on to this petition across a wide variety of political perspectives, knowing that basic human rights are fundamental to securing, "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." This is not a partisan matter.

We The People sign on to this petition in good faith, assuring elected representatives that failure to safeguard the well-being of Americans will result in extraordinary upheaval in the next election cycle.

We The People sign on to this petition as a good-faith gesture to our historic allies in solidarity with them, including our neighbors and others who champion freedom and liberty, like our NATO allies and democracies in Asia and around the world.

The short-term goal? Collect 100,000 signatures in 2025!

Long-term? Shift from reactive to proactive:

hold Americans and American leaders accountable to champion human rights - for people in the U.S. and around the world.