    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
    [August 21, 1996]
    [Pages 1323-1324]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the War Crimes Act of 1996
    August 21, 1996

        Today I am pleased to sign into law H.R. 3680, the ``War Crimes Act
    of 1996.'' This bill, in furtherance of the Geneva Conventions of 1949,
    extends U.S. criminal jurisdiction over certain war crimes and provides
    the United States with clearer authority to prosecute violations of the
    laws of war.
        Most grave breaches of the Conventions are already subject to U.S.
    prosecution if committed in the United States and many--such as hostage
    taking, terrorism or genocide--could be prosecuted even if committed
    abroad. However, many other crimes which would be considered grave
    breaches of the Conventions could not be prosecuted in United States
    courts. This legislation is designed to help fill that gap. It
    authorizes the prosecution of war criminals if they are found in or
    extradited to the United States. It applies to U.S. nationals or members
    of the Armed Forces who are perpetrators or victims of war crimes. It
    would apply, for example, in the case of American civilians subjected to
    war crimes in an overseas conflict.
        This legislation represents an important reaffirmation of American
    leadership in the development of the law for the protection of victims
    of war.
        In keeping with this leadership role, however, we can and should do
    even more to strengthen the law in this area. To that end, my
    Administration is committed to working with the Congress to expand the
    scope of this legislation. This expansion should address: (1) war crimes
    committed by any person who comes within the jurisdiction of the United
    States courts, including crimes committed by non-U.S. persons against
    non-U.S. victims; (2) cases involving other serious war crimes not
    covered by H.R. 3680, such as those prohibited by The Hague Conventions
    of 1907; and (3) cases involving acts to be made criminal under the
    recently improved landmines protocol of the Convention on Conventional
    Weapons. This broadening of the law would not require the United States
    to exercise jurisdiction in any particular case, but would provide the
    authority to do so in the national interest.
        This bill and the expansions we seek have been endorsed by the
    American Red Cross, which has had an important role to play in this area
    ever since its founder Clara Barton took

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    the lead in securing U.S. ratification of the first Geneva Convention.
    The International Committee of the Red Cross has also voiced its support
    for our efforts to broaden the scope of this legislation.
        In sum, this bill serves important goals and is a significant step
    forward. Now we should build on this progress and seek further
    improvements in promoting respect for the laws of war and in reinforcing
    protections for the victims of war.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    August 21, 1996.

    Note: H.R. 3680, approved August 21, was assigned Public Law No. 104-
    192.