5/3/2015

TheHague,theICC,andtheeconomicbenefitsofbeingacentreforjustice|JanetAnderson|Law|TheGuardian

TheHague,theICC,andtheeconomic
benefitsofbeingacentreforjustice
JanetAnderson
Dutchgovermentwantstoputthehomeoftheinternationalcriminalcourtonthemapasthe
justicecapitaloftheworld
Tuesday25September201210.19EDT

"SendhimtoTheHague"isthechantadoptedbyactiviststheworldoverwhendiscussingtheir
leastfavouritewarcriminal.Yet,althoughtheinternationalcriminalcourt(ICC)hasbeenaround
for10years,it'sonlyinthelastfewmonthsthatbuildingworkhasstartedonitspermanent
location.
TheDutchwereremarkablyslowincatchingontothepotentialbenefitsofsuchahighprofilefor
theirsleepyseasideadministrativetown,eventhoughtheyparadethecountry'shistoricallinksto
the17thCenturyfatherofinternationallaw,HugoGrotius,withpride.Nowtheyarefullofwaysto
cashinontheiridentityasjusticecapitaloftheworld.
IntherunuptothenegotiationsovertheICCinRome,theDutchwentalloutfortherighttohost
thenewinstitution.Theirdiplomatsplayedaversionof"totalfootball"thelikesofwhichhavenot
beenseensinceJohanCruyffcaptainedtheDutchsoccersquadinthe1970'sandasaresultThe
Haguewasselectedashostcitywithoutanycompetition.
Butevenasthegovernmentcelebrated,therewassomeanxietythatthecourtshouldn'tendupas
"afreeridefortherestoftheworldattheNetherlands'expense,"accordingtoaseniordiplomat
whohelpedinthenegotiations.ProfessorWillemGenugten,professoroflawinTilburg,agrees
thattheDutchwereconcerned:"Atthebeginningofthemillenniumitwasnotclearwhatthe
economicbenefitswouldbe,"hesays.
"TheDutchareextremelyCalvinisticmakingthingsdifficultwhenitcomestomoneyissues,"
saysProfessorPetervanKriekenofWebsterUniversity.Someofthosefearshavebeenallayedby
researchbythecityauthoritiesshowingthatinternationaljobsinandaroundTheHague
increasedby50%to18,000inthefiveyearsto2010andthatthoseemployees'spendingpower,
alongwiththatoftheirorganisations,supportednearlyasmanyjobsagain.
TomaximisethepotentialeconomicbenefitforDutchcompanies,thegovernmenthaspart
fundedTheHagueInstituteforGlobalJustice(HIGJ)anewlegalthinktankinthecity.Whenit
openedmuchwasmadeofthelinksbetweenglobaljusticeandtheeconomicrealmastwosidesof
thesamecoin.Thethinktank'sbriefistofindpracticalwaystoputlawtouse.Oneofitsprojects
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TheHague,theICC,andtheeconomicbenefitsofbeingacentreforjustice|JanetAnderson|Law|TheGuardian

involvesthedevelopmentofanecoeconomicdisputeresolutionmechanism."Thisisabout
companiesintheNetherlandsandelsewhereusingnaturalresources,"explainsvanGenugten,
whohasbecomeHIGJ'sDean.
FromadiplomaticperspectivetheNetherlandsexpectstoprofitfromchampioningjusticeandthe
ICC.TheHague'sMayor,JoziasvanAartsen,likestotellsaudiencesabroadthatinternational
justiceisthe"vocationofHolland"andthattheNetherlandshasaleadingroletoplayina
supranationallegalcommunity.
ButsomeDutchofficialsworry.WarnertenKate,formerpoliticaladvisortotheUNattheJuba
peacetalks,describesDutchsupportforinternationaljusticeas"veryextreme"."Itdoesn'tallow
muchspaceforotherconsiderationstodowithconflictresolution.Imeanthesethingsdotieyour
handsdiplomatically,"hesaysHecitestensionslastyeararoundtheSudanesereferendumwhen
theDutchdevelopmentminsterBenKnapenarguedinfavourofleavingOmaralBashirinpower
ratherthanrisking"chaos"despitetheICC'sarrestwarrantagainsttheSudanesepresidentfor
genocide."Itwasafragilesituationsothat'swhyhesaidit,"saysTenKate.ButthenKnapenfaced
questionsinparliamentandtheministerclarifiedhisposition,sayingthathewaspresentingthe
viewsofcolleaguesinSudanandthat"theNetherlandsstoodabsolutely"bythedemandthat
BashirappearbeforetheICC.
TenKateaskswhetherthegovernmentcanmakesensiblepolicychoicesorwhethertheyare
"obligedtotaketherouteofsimplysupportingtheICCandnothingelse.It'salimitationonpolicy
options."
TheDutcharenowbusyputtingtheNetherlandsmorefirmlyonthemapas"theworldwide
centreofexpertiseintheareaofpeaceandjustice,"vanAartsensaidrecently.However,there'san
awarenessthattheauthoritiescan'ttakeTheHague'sidentityforgranted:"maintainingthat
privilegedpositiondemandsconstantcareandattention,"saysvanGenugten."Economicsis
importantitleadstoextrajobsandextraeconomicattentionforTheHague",hesays."Butalso
importantistheimmaterial,strengtheningourimageasthecountryofGrotiusandpeace
conferences,andcompetingasaworldcity."
Morecomment

Topics
Internationalcriminalcourt
Internationalcriminaljustice
Netherlands
OmaralBashir

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