PRESS RELEASE

World Social Forum Activists Demand Globalization of Justice:
Nobel Peace Laureate Joins International Criminal Court Advocates

Mumbai, January 16, 2004 - Shirin Ebadi, 2003 Nobel Peace Prize laureate
and Iranian human rights defender, will join hundreds of activists at the
World Social Forum beginning here today to demand universal ratification
of the International Criminal Court (ICC) treaty. Ms. Ebadi's presence
on a January 20 panel organized by the International Federation for Human
Rights (FIDH) will raise the profile of the pro-ICC movement: a global
campaign partnering grassroots activists with governments and
international organizations in promoting the strengthened rule of law.

Created in July 2002, the ICC will try individuals - regardless of rank
or power - accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Referred to as the "court of last resort," the ICC will act only when
national courts are unable or unwilling to do so. Currently, 92
countries, representing all regions of the world, accept ICC jurisdiction.

"The ICC is an historic innovation that strengthens the global
enforcement of human rights, and presents a viable alternative to
militarism and pre-emptive war," said Mr. William Pace, convenor of the
2,000 member NGO Coalition for the International Criminal Court
(Coalition). "While many social activists have criticized international
institutions as undemocratic and serving elite economic interests, the
ICC is a positive force of globalization: one that enforces human rights
at the international level," Mr. Pace said.

"The ICC enshrines basic standards of accountability, and thus can
strengthen human rights campaigns and law reform processes in India,"
said Ms. Saumya Uma, Coordinator of the Indian Coalition for the ICC, an
informal network of Indian NGOs.

Top Indian and international experts to be featured in the global justice
panel include: Mr. Sidiki Kaba of Senegal, president of the International
Federation of Human Rights (FIDH); Ms. Irene Khan of the UK, secretary-
general of Amnesty International; Ms. Vahida Nainar of India,
representing the Womens' Initiative for Gender Justice; Mr. William Pace
of the United States, representing the international secretariat of the
NGO Coalition for the ICC, and other advocates from the Democratic
Republic of Congo, India and Palestine. The panel will highlight the
ICC's relevance to globalization and the fight against impunity, with a
special focus on advances in gender justice and victim's rights in the
Global South.

# # #

Note to the Editor: The FIDH-organized ICC panel will be held as part of
the World Social Forum on January 20, 2004 from 1 - 4 p.m. in room A2 and
5 - 8 p.m. in room A5 at Nesco Limited on the Western Express Highway in
Goregaon East, Mumbai.

For more information, contact:
Adele Waugaman, Coalition Media Liaison (+ 91) 98 216 82338
Saumya Uma, Indian Coalition Coordinator (+ 91) 98 203 46260