[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

[[Page 1324]]

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.