The verdict will focus on crimes committed under the guise of ‘development’.
Massive amount of environmental destruction is taking place regularly, thanks to the so-called developmental activities. Activists, environmentalists and concerned citizens all have been arguing that it is a crime against humanity and soon the International Criminal Court (ICC) may soon say so.
ICC announced this week that it would give special consideration to pursuing crimes involving environmental destruction and land grabs.
The potential effects of this verdict could be significant as it pursue cases involving environmental damage or the misuse or theft of land as crimes against humanity. It also raises the question of whether international corporations and other businesses could become embroiled in cases in a court better known for cases against dictators and warlords.
The announcement drew widespread praise for the ICC, which has sometimes been criticized for its slow progress on convictions and a perceived focus on African leaders since it began operating in 2002. Global Diligence, an international criminal law firm that lodged a case with the court accusing Cambodia’s ruling elite of land grabs that saw as many as 350,000 people evicted, was among those welcoming the news.
The verdict could place the systemic crimes committed under the guise of ‘development’ at the par with wartime atrocities and may herald a change in the definition of crimes
But, as the nation states are not forced to follow and implement the ICC verdicts, it is more of a symbolic value and as long as the current paradigm of development is mot questioned by the policymakers across the world and paves the way to more people and environmental friendly models of development, the crime against humanity or the environmental crimes will keep on being committed as usual.
Anyway, this idea of the ICC seeking to prosecute crimes that resonate with the international community is a welcome development, but ultimately whether the ICC succeed or fail based on how it resonates with, and impacts the lives of, the people living within the communities affected by these crimes.