THE HAGUE: The worlds's first permanent war crimes court opened for business in The Hague yesterday, with officials declaring a new chapter in the history of human rights.
Amid a glittering ceremony in the vaulted Knights Hall in the Dutch Parliament, 18 judges were sworn in, among them Ireland's Justice Maureen Harding Clark, and the court was praised by UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan.
"By solemn undertaking they have given here in open court, these 11 men and seven women, representing all regions of the world and many different cultures, have made themselves the embodiment of our collective consciences," Mr Annan said.
The court follows closely in the footsteps of the UN criminal tribunal for former Yugoslavia, now trying Slobodan Milosevic in a headquarters two miles away.
But unlike the UN tribunal for Yugoslavia, the ICC is permanent, and, in theory at least, world-wide.
A total of 89 nations have joined the new court, but key states, including America, China, Israel, India, Japan and Russia have yet to join.
The ICC has the powers to prosecute individuals for war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.
Like the UN tribunals, it has judges but no juries, and cannot impose a death sentence.
However, opposition from states, particularly America, means the court has no formal link with the United Nations - though officials desperately hope they can create one in the future.
For this reason, the presence of Mr Annan, and his warm words of praise, were a major fillip to a court facing an uncertain future.
In particular, delegates are likely to seize on his closing remarks, in which he said: "The United Nations looks forward to working with the International Criminal Court in the cause of all humanity."
America is likely to harden its opposition.
A total of 24 nations, two of them ICC members, have already signed treaties with Washington promising not to hand over any Americans accused of war crimes by the new court.
Washington says it is opposed to the court because it fears politically-motivated prosecutions could be launched.
In an occasion overshadowed by concerns of possible war in Iraq, the Dutch Prime Minister, Mr Jan Peter Balkenende, said: "Suspicion and pessimism often dominate international politics. But today we are showing the world that there are also grounds for joy, optimism and hope."