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Stop Ecocide Foundation Ending Corporate Immunity

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Stop Ecocide Foundation Ending Corporate Immunity STOP ECOCIDE FOUNDATION ENDING CORPORATE IMMUNITY Mass damage and destruction of nature is taking place globally. And right now, it’s legally permitted. We call this ECOCIDE and we’re working to make it an INTERNATIONAL CRIME. www.stopecocide.earth Introduction: Our value proposition: PUTTING THE WORLD BRIDGE TO A LIVEABLE WORLD ON NOTICE This change in the law enables a rapid yet peaceful transition to a liveable The world is in climate and ecological crisis world, by creating accountability and because mass damage and destruction of nature responsibility from the very beginning (ECOCIDE) has been committed over decades. of the cycle of industrial extraction, Treaties, agreements and civil lawsuits have all manufacturing or implementation failed to prevent this. (investors, insurers, re-insurers). Without such a change there is little IT IS TIME TO CHANGE THE RULES prospect of corporate practices Amending the Rome Statute of the International changing fast enough to prevent Criminal Court to include ECOCIDE as a CRIME - major ecological harm and alongside genocide, war crimes and crimes against millions of avoidable deaths. It’s humanity – can provide a simple, effective deterrent a key foundational piece which for those in positions of responsibility (CEOs, can be implemented within government officials), enforceable within existing existing systems, and it creates criminal justice systems. long-term legal protection for all life on Earth. THIS AMENDMENT IS OUR GOAL. The legal process is straightforward, can be initiated a key foundational by any state (however small) which is a party to piece which can be “ the Statute, and takes an estimated 5 years. This “ creates an automatic period of transition during implemented within which states, corporations and investors must adjust to a world in which CEOs and government F existing systems officials shall become personally criminally liable O N U O for financing or facilitating ECOCIDE. I N D A T Legal procedure: A SIMPLE 4-STAGE PROCESS Opportunity to act: 1. Proposal: Any State Party to (i.e. country MULTIPLE CRISES which has ratified) the Rome Statute may The significant increase in destruction of nature (deforestation, fires, flooding) propose an amendment. There are currently around the world and the reporting of it as ECOCIDE has highlighted the current 123 States Parties. climate and ecological crisis, and mass civil mobilization has made this crisis a focus for mainstream media. Now the C-19 pandemic has paused business-as- 2. Admissibility: Requires a majority of those usual in the developed world, enabling many sectors of society to consider how present and voting at next annual meeting the ground rules must be changed to protect the future of humanity and the Earth. of States Parties. 3. Adoption: Requires at least 2/3 majority (currently 82) of States Parties and will likely take place at a dedicated Crime Review Conference. 4. Ratification: States Parties can then ratify, and must enforce in their own jurisdictions a year from ratification. Deliverable goals in 2021: REACHING PROPOSAL STAGE • Complete legal drafting of ECOCIDE amendment – definition & proposal • Secure a lead state willing to propose the amendment (stage 1) • Secure 8 further states to create a foundation of support for admissibility vote (stage 2) Operating advantage: ALREADY LEADING IN THIS SPACE 10 years global profile-raising of ECOCIDE concept by our co-founder, UK visionary lawyer the late Polly Higgins (1968-2019) 4 years diplomatic advocacy with small island nations at the International Criminal Court’s annual Assembly of States Parties Pope Francis has called for ECOCIDE to be made an international crime using Higgins’ definition (Nov 2019) Expert team of researchers, international criminal lawyers and diplomatic representatives working with us Sovereign states Vanuatu and the Maldives (both working with us) officially call for “serious consideration” of ECOCIDE crime (Dec 2019) Expert legal team preparing the draft of a clear ECOCIDE definition and amendment to Rome Statute for consideration by States Parties Expanding international grassroots movement: teams and websites in UK, Netherlands and Spain; Canada, France and Portugal coming soon. Over 16,000 signed up donor-supporters (“Earth Protectors”) WE ARE THE ONLY NGO ACTIVELY IMPLEMENTING A GLOBAL STRATEGY TO AMEND THE ROME STATUTE TO INCLUDE ECOCIDE. Co-Founders Polly Higgins Baltasar Garzón Richard Rogers Mike Mansfield QC Valerie Cabanes Nnimmo Bassey Co-Founder Advisory Board International criminal lawyer, Partner, Global Diligence LLP Human Rights barrister, International law expert Founder Director, Health of former judge Nexus Chambers (human rights) Mother Earth Foundation Jojo Mehta Fadjar Schouten-Korwa Jonathon Porritt Clare Dubois Kurikindi Gail Bradbrook Co-Founder & Human Rights Lawyer Founder Director, Forum for Founder and CEO, TreeSisters Amazonian Elder & Shaman Co-Founder, Extinction Chair of the Board the Future Rebellion The Stop Ecocide campaign was founded in 2017 by the late Polly Higgins, visionary UK lawyer, and Jojo Mehta, environmental activist. We work with practising Elly van Vliet Margarethe Wewerinke-Singh Katy Olivia van Tergouw Shirleen Chin international criminal Secretary of the Board Treasurer of the Board, Acting Director, Advocacy & Strategic lawyers, legal and Senior Legal Advisor Head of NL operations Partnerships forensic research experts and leading environmental voices from all continents. In addition, we have Legal & Diplomatic Team campaign teams based in the UK, Netherlands and Spain. F O N U I O Nabil Ahmed Rodrigo Lledó Fidel Jaramillo Paz y Miño N T Senior Forensic Advisor (Co-director, FIBGAR), Senior Legal Research D A Legal Associate Our diplomatic advocacy strategy: A CLOSE TEAM OF STATE ALLIES We have a small group of 5 interested states developed through diplomatic contacts. Presenting to these states a draft Rome Statute amendment for consideration is our key focus for this year, and will form the basis of outreach to further states. Our campaign strategy: A SIMPLE STORY FOR NGOs & GOVERNMENTS We are developing two key related narratives to address two key issues and audiences. The first narrative, for NGOs and the public, is one of ending corporate immunity. All environmental, climate and conservation groups will benefit from ECOCIDE becoming a criminal offence. It will provide a solid legal and moral foundation for the protection of nature which is currently absent. The second narrative, for governments, arises from the first and is about mitigating political risk. Our aim is to encourage multiple NGOs, organisations and movements to take up, via their own leadership and membership, a simple call to governments: “Support making ECOCIDE an international crime.” This can be framed as a safe and effective political opportunity. • Safe because for the law to come into force, many countries must support it. • Effective because when it does, it will be enforceable in all of those countries. • Opportunity because it is a low-risk, concrete way to show real leadership on the climate and ecological crisis. Just imagine how much easier it would be to protect what we love and what supports life – from honeybees to chimpanzees, from rivers to rainforests, from fertile soil to living oceans, from food resilience to land stewardship – if it were a crime to destroy ecosystems. It would make all the difference. F O N U I O N D A T www.stopecocide.earth Stop Ecocide Foundation is a registered foundation in the Netherlands with charitable (ANBI) status. Registered address: Ridderstraat 23, 6511 TM Nijmegen Postal address: Postbus 601, 1180 AP Amstelveen Registered foundation number: 76532054 Tax identity number: 860661337.
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