Brussels - January 30, 2014
Actively mobilized for several months, the representatives of different organizations* have come to the draft of a joint document, the Charter of Brussels, which stands for a real call to the international community for the creation of a European and an International Criminal Courts of the Environment and Health.
A few prominent figures, including MM. Mikhaïl Gorbachev, Edgar Morin or ICC Judge Cuno Jakob Tarfusser, have expressed their support to the initiative.
Corinne Lepage, MEP and President of the FME-ILE, welcomes this success: « Numerous initiatives already exist among the world. It is high time to gather our efforts in order to reach our ultimate objective that is an effective sanction for environmental crimes. I hope this first move will send a strong signal to the international community. »
Prisca Merz, director of End Ecocide in Europe declared « Our citizens’ movement requests the international community to End Ecocide. We need a law and Courts to trial those who are responsible for the large-scale destruction of ecosystems. Joining forces with other partners is the key to coming closer to our common aim: A world in which we value the Earth and protect it. »
Jo Leinen, European deputy who supports the Charter said « I urge the states that signed the Rome status to expand the ICC’s mandate to cover environmental crimes. Many people have suffered under disasters with damage to their health. There should be no more impunity for the poisoning or the destruction of conditions of life. »
“Today’s experience”, explains Antonio Abrami, president of SEJF “is introductory toward an amendment that looks more and more urgent and that it’s felt primarily in people’s consciences, more than in the political choices of the institutions. To tackle the environmental issue, that is the core of the sustainability policy, we need first of all to consider the responsibility aspect of those who damage and destroy. An emergency that clashes with the inadequacy of the present judicial system ».
For its part, the International Criminal Court of consciousness against Nature »recognizes that environmental damagesare a threat to peace,security,well-beingand the sustainability of theworld, the respect for human rightsandthe enjoyment of the right to ahealthy and balanced environment. »
This Charter is now open to signatures and comments on the website: http://iecc-tpie.org/
*the first signatories of the Charter are: the FME-ILE, End Ecocide in Europe, the International Criminal Court of consciousness against Nature, the SEJF, the IAES, SERPAJ, the European Network of Prosecutors for the Environment, SELVAS, the Basso Foundation, Globe EU
Press contact : François Damerval : 0033 (0)663 88 58 44