Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui Acquittal Puts Pressure on ICC

An acquittal of a former Congolese militia leader has prompted calls for reforming the International Criminal Court. “Since its inception, the [ICC] has faced criticism, sometimes over the sluggish pace of indictments and prosecutions, sometimes over its cost, and regularly over its exclusive focus on African crimes,” reports the BBC News. Some analysts suggest that the court is subjected to political influences, contributing to ongoing conflicts and regime change. Others suggest that the court is too removed from the locations subject to its judgment, both legally, relying a western legal perspectives, and symbolically in terms of lavish surroundings. Still, the budget for the court is small compared with expenditures on global security or aid. The BBC News suggests that the ICC is taking small steps toward greater efficiency, yet showing no signs of undertaking major reforms. Either way, judgments handed down from an international court can be expected to attract scrutiny. – YaleGlobal