The Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte decided to withdraw from the International Criminal Court in 2018. This was done to avoid investigations into human rights violations during Duterte's "War on Drugs." There are some advantages to withdrawing such as reduced costs and maintaining national sovereignty, but also serious disadvantages like diminished accountability for international crimes, diplomatic isolation, and loss of international cooperation. Whether withdrawing from the ICC was the right decision for the Philippines remains an ongoing debate.
The Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte decided to withdraw from the International Criminal Court in 2018. This was done to avoid investigations into human rights violations during Duterte's "War on Drugs." There are some advantages to withdrawing such as reduced costs and maintaining national sovereignty, but also serious disadvantages like diminished accountability for international crimes, diplomatic isolation, and loss of international cooperation. Whether withdrawing from the ICC was the right decision for the Philippines remains an ongoing debate.
The Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte decided to withdraw from the International Criminal Court in 2018. This was done to avoid investigations into human rights violations during Duterte's "War on Drugs." There are some advantages to withdrawing such as reduced costs and maintaining national sovereignty, but also serious disadvantages like diminished accountability for international crimes, diplomatic isolation, and loss of international cooperation. Whether withdrawing from the ICC was the right decision for the Philippines remains an ongoing debate.
The Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte decided to withdraw from the International Criminal Court in 2018. This was done to avoid investigations into human rights violations during Duterte's "War on Drugs." There are some advantages to withdrawing such as reduced costs and maintaining national sovereignty, but also serious disadvantages like diminished accountability for international crimes, diplomatic isolation, and loss of international cooperation. Whether withdrawing from the ICC was the right decision for the Philippines remains an ongoing debate.
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The Philippines under the Duterte administration decided to revoke the membership of the Philippines
to the International Criminal Court. Discuss the advantages and or disadvantages/implications of such a decision.
The establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC) was the turning point in global justice which aimed to hold to account those guilty of some of the world’s worst crime. As of January 2022, the Office of the Prosecutor has brought 30 cases before the Court. So far, the ICC has issued 10 convictions and 4 acquittals. However, most crimes tend to go unpunished due to most reasons such as lack of evidence, power, and wealth. One such case was the investigation of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte after launching his anti-drug campaign where human rights watch found the police, with the president’s order, regularly conducted unjustified evidences which led to unlawful killings. Duterte, was convicted of violating human rights during his anti-drug campaign called “War on Drugs” which saw victims numbering just below 8,000. So, in March of 2018, the Philippines, led by President Rodrigo Duterte, took the momentous and decisive decision to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC). This choice sparked discussions and concerns on a national and worldwide level.
Leaving the International Criminal Court (ICC) is a decision that is often met with controversy and criticism, as it can be seen as a step away from the principles of justice and accountability for international crimes. However, there are arguments made by some countries and leaders in favor of leaving the ICC. The Philippines, for example, decided to leave the ICC during the Duterte Administration to avoid conflict with the international organization regarding the human rights violation the president faced. But, was the decision to leave the ICC a good one, or, just another mistake which wasn’t properly thought of. Leaving the ICC came with different ups and downs. The first advantage of leaving the ICC is Cost Saving since being a member state involves financial obligations that fund the court’s operation. These funds can be redirected for internal and domestic priorities. Another advantage is National Sovereignty which, by not being included in outside matters, internal affairs are kept within and outsiders are usually ignored in favor of self-determination. One more advantage of this is National Jurisdiction. Countries that leave the ICC often argue that their national judicial systems are fully capable of addressing international crimes within their borders. They prefer to rely on their domestic legal mechanisms for accountability rather than an international court. It's critical to stress that these benefits are hotly contested and that withdrawing from the ICC can have serious negative effects, such as possible harm to a nation's standing abroad, diplomatic isolation, and questions about who will be held accountable for international crimes.
However, great advantages equal great risks. These are some disadvantages of leaving the International Criminal Court. First one is Diminished Accountability for international crimes. Leaving the ICC creates an idea of impunity since the ICC was established to prosecute individuals responsible with worst crimes known to man. The thought matters a lot especially in this rapidly growing society. Another disadvantage of leaving the ICC is Isolation and Diplomatic Consequences. Actions such as leaving the ICC disrupts relations with other nations and can cause negative outcomes on host countries. It can damage diplomatic ties, weaken international reputation and makes it hard for cooperation with other states. Long-Term Implication is another disadvantage of leaving the ICC. Leaving the ICC can have long-term implications for a country's reputation, especially regarding its commitment to justice, human rights, and international law. This can affect the country's standing in international organizations and global forums. Lastly, Loss of International Cooperation can greatly affect a nation in terms of cooperation in terms of addressing international crimes. Leaving the ICC can pose a great threat in collaboration with investigations and prosecutions which eventually leads to internal and international consequences.
The Philippines' decision to leave the International Criminal Court during the Duterte administration is still a complicated and disputable matter. Analysts contend that the government's withdrawal was an attempt to avoid responsibility for alleged violations of human rights and despite the administration citing perceived bias and worries about sovereignty as the main justifications, this ruling has far-reaching effects on the international community's commitment to justice and accountability for transnational crimes as well as the Philippines. Whether it is a good decision to leave the ICC is for the people to decide. If we think that the advantages far outweighs the risks then, there are nothing to worry about, but, if something does, let’s hope that this decision does not damage us as a nation.
