The APPG, along with the Aegis Trust and  parliamentary colleagues, have been working for some months to strengthen UK legislation on genocide. As the law currently stands, if a war crime, crime against humanity of crime of genocide took place outside the UK before the International Criminal Court Act came into force, suspects cannot be tried in English courts. There is also a requirement that suspects be resident in the UK, rather than just physically present. Essentially, where those suspected of some of the most heinous crimes in international law cannot be deported to face trial overseas, they wil be allowed to go free in the UK without facing justice.

On 10 April 2009, two days after the High Court ruled that four men suspected of involvement in the Rwandan genocide could not be extradited to face trial in Rwanda for fear they would not receive a fair trial, the APPG issued a press release calling for the loopholes to be closed. The four men are now free in the UK.

On 18 May, the Coroners and Justice Bill had its Second Reading in the House of Lords. During the debate, seven Peers spoke in favour of retrospectively ameding the law so that suspects of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide can be tried here in the UK. It was publicly announced by Baroness D'Souza that Lord Carlile intends to table an amendment to the Bill during the Committee State to close current loopholes in the law (both Peers are members of the APPG).

During the Second Reading, Ministry of Justice Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Lord Bach acknowledged the points which Peers raised in the debate:

"Many noble Lords spoke about genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity - all of them in favour of movement on this issue. We know that the noble Lord, Lord Carlile, intends to table an amendment in Committee to make the offences of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity retrospective. We remain keen to ensure that no one escapes justice for crimes as devastating as those in question, so graphically described by noble Lords... As  my right honourable friend the Lord Chancellor [Secretary of State for Justice, Jack Straw MP] said in another place, we are actively considering this issues, and I have no doubt that we shall have an interesting debate in Committee on this very important area of concern."

Amendment to this area of the law has also received cross party support in the House of Commons. On 12 May 2009, Mary Creagh MP, Vice Chair of the APPG, tabled Early Day Motion 1477 highlighting the current loopholes. The EDM has been signed by almost a hundred members of parliament.

The APPG will continue to press for the amendment to be passed in coming months. For more information contact Chris Levick: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 020 7219 1165