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Bush Nominates Anti-UN Candidate for Ambassador to the UN

Earlier this week, President Bush nominated John Bolton to be the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, angering women’s rights and human rights advocates. According to Citizens for Global Solutions, Bolton has a history of hostility towards the United Nations, international law, and the International Criminal Court (ICC).

As President George W. Bush’s Undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security, Bolton spearheaded US opposition to the ICC, reports the Washington Post and even stated that the day he signed the letter taking away the US signature to the Rome Statute was “the happiest moment of my government service.” Bolton also opposed the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, the international bio-weapons conference, the ban on chemical weapons and the nuclear test ban, according to Americans for Democratic Action.

Women’s rights advocates are extremely concerned about Bolton’s disregard of the ICC. The ICC has widespread support in the US from groups such as the Feminist Majority because it identifies gender crimes and the crime of apartheid as crimes against humanity. Article 7 of the Rome Statute, which created the court, presents clear language that defines rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilization, or any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity as gender crimes.

Sources:

Associated Press 3/9/05; Americans for Democratic Action 3/9/05; Washington Post 3/8/05; Citizens for Global Solutions 3/7/05

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