Crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute

From the inordinate ado about impeachment, let us look at the more global problem before the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

- Atty. Josephus B. Jimenez [e-mail]

One of the crimes under the jurisdiction of the International ICC are crimes against humanity. It is important that we understand the meaning of these crimes so as to contribute meaningfully to any conversation concerning the case against former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Under Article 7 of the Rome Statute, the term "crime against humanity" means any of the following acts committed as part of a widespread and systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack: murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation or forcible transfer of population, imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law.

The term "crime against humanity" also includes torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilization, or any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity. Well, the charges against the former president do not include sexual violence. I have not seen any of such kind.