Senator Coons on Tuesday praised President Obama for signing into law legislation he co-sponsored to enhance the ability of the U.S. Government bring war criminals to justice. The bill would allow the United States to offer monetary rewards for information that leads to the arrest or conviction of foreign nationals accused by international criminal tribunals of atrocity-related crimes.
The Department of State Rewards Program Update and Technical Corrections Act of 2012, which was written by Senator John Kerry, would help bring to justice perpetrators of crimes against humanity including Joseph Kony and other leaders of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
“All of these individuals face charges before international criminal tribunals for horrific acts, including attacks on civilians, murder, the recruitment and use of child soldiers and rape,” the White House said in a statement issued on Tuesday. “We have made unmistakably clear that the United States is committed to seeing war criminals and other perpetrators of atrocities held accountable for their crimes, and today’s legislation can help us achieve that goal.”
As chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, Chris has been an outspoken advocate for capturing Joseph Kony and LRA leaders.
Click here to learn more about Chris’ work to stop the LRA.