Submission: Criminal Code Amendment (Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes) Bill 2024

17 July 2024

Amnesty International Australia has made a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee regarding the Criminal Code Amendment (Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes) Bill 2024.

The recommendations contained in this submission go towards ensuring that Australian laws and regulations are amended so that Australia can provide the broadest cooperation with the International Criminal Court to ensure that it can achieve its crucial role effectively.

Centrally, this involves limiting the scope of the Attorney General's powers over cases concerning international crimes by establishing clearer guidelines (in line with Australia's obligations under the Statute), as well as a right to appeal the Attorney General's decision.

We want a world where human rights are no longer under fire. Governments and people in power everywhere must respect everyone's basic freedoms, and allow their citizens to live safely, without fear. When human rights are attacked, Amnesty will call on the human rights abusers to be tried and brought to justice. Learn more about what we do and our crisis response work.