by the Honorable Nat Paul, former member of the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking 

July 18th is Mandela Day following directly behind the International Justice Day, let us reflect upon the fight to end apartheid with integrity as we look at systems of poverty intentionally built that segregates people and discriminates against them merely by their bank account ledger and lack of access to a living wage. Let us reflect upon a nation state of Palestine systemically locked behind a wall of apartheid for being born as an Indigenous inhabitant to the land of Cannan. Let us reflect upon the gender apartheid where many still see women as nothing more than a baby factory and not a human. Let us reflect upon a “religious” policy of criminalizing homosexuality—up to and including “kill the gays laws,” and the authenticity to be outside of heteronormativity. When laws are written to exclude humanity from basic human rights those laws are amoral and must be swiftly condemned. In this day and age, poverty is a political choice of politicians choosing to starve the “pauper class” and not an accident of any individual unable to stand under the crushing burden of systemically enforced poverty.

The expansion of the ICC’s jurisdiction to include ANY location on this planet where internationally condemned crimes occur to remove the impunity of nations that are not currently under ICC jurisdiction would be a firm start to expansion of justice. A concise definition of humanity to remove the Necropolitical derived “hierarchy” of humanity to ensure when we discuss humanity we are all discussing the same population of humans. As well as removal of the ICC from the bureaucratic process to ensure they are the autonomous and independent authority to investigate, convict, and deal with crimes against humanity wherever they occur. To prevent current atrocities occurring, to end apartheids, as well as future atrocities from occurring the ICC must have absolute authority to ensure international rule of law shines upon the entirety of the globe, not just those nation states that choose to recognize their authority.

The fight for Justice is far from over; we need to assess our “moral” compasses to ensure we end all forms of segregation and dehumanization.