Global Criminal Justice Act
The Global Criminal Justice Act would create an Office of Global Criminal Justice within the U.S. Department of State, led by an Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice. The office would advise senior State and other federal officials on issues related to atrocities (genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity), help shape U.S. policy on prevention and accountability, and coordinate with other agencies, international and hybrid courts, and civil society to investigate, document, prosecute, and address atrocities worldwide. It would also coordinate the deployment of diplomatic, legal, economic, and other tools to collect evidence, protect victims, promote rule of law, and support transitional justice and reconciliation. The office may be placed within State’s organizational structure at the Secretary’s discretion, and the Ambassador-at-Large would be a presidential appointment confirmed by the Senate. The bill sets up broad roles for interagency coordination and liaison with tribunals, but it does not specify funding.
Key Points
- 1Establishment of the Office of Global Criminal Justice within the Department of State, placement at the Secretary’s discretion.
- 2Core duties include advising on atrocities (genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity), formulating U.S. policy for prevention and accountability, and coordinating U.S. positions on international and hybrid courts.
- 3Cooperation with governments, international organizations, and NGOs to establish and support commissions of inquiry, fact-finding missions, and tribunals to investigate and prosecute atrocities.
- 4Coordination of diplomatic, legal, economic, military, and other tools to collect evidence, hold perpetrators accountable, protect victims, support reconciliation, deter abuses, and promote the rule of law.
- 5Leadership by an Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice (presidential nomination, Senate confirmation), with authority to perform additional duties as prescribed by the Secretary.