Justice in the balance

The impunity enjoyed by architects of the century's worst atrocities underscores the urgent need for an international criminal (ICC). The recent creation of the ad hoc tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda signals the end of international tolerance for heinous crimes, and a growing determination to punish perpetrators. This determination will be tested at the Diplomatic Conference in Rome, beginning June 15, 1998, when over 180 states will gather to establish a permanent ICC.