Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Congressman Meeks Commends ICC Conviction


"I Applaud Efforts to Hold These Individuals Accountable for Their Crimes Against Humanity"

WASHINGTON D.C. -- On Tuesday, July 10, 2012, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, sentenced Congolese militia commander Thomas Lubanga to 14 years in jail for recruiting and using child soldiers, in his long-running campaign of violence in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

The Court had received conclusive evidence that Lubanga had abducted children as young as eleven years old, forcing the boys to fight in his rebel army and the girls to serve as sex slaves. 

The Thomas Lubanga case marks the ICC’s first conviction in its nearly decade long history, Congressman Meeks commended the ICC for committing to justice on behalf of the children who lost their childhood, innocence, and lives to the atrocities of war. 

“This is a victory for human rights, and I applaud efforts to hold these individuals accountable for their crimes against humanity,” Rep. Meeks said. 

Congressman Meeks, in his role as member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, advocates for protection and promotion of human rights, globally, particularly launching bilateral initiatives to eliminate discrimination.

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