According to Reuters, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has recommended that the US State Department stop funding a number of international programs aimed at investigating war crimes. These include initiatives to document Russian military crimes in Ukraine.
According to internal documents and statements by Reuters sources, the matter concerns nearly two dozen projects around the world. Morespecifically, an $18 million grant to the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine hangs in balance. The funds were intended to investigate crimes against humanity, including sexualized violence and torture. In addition, it is proposed to stop funding projects to collect evidence and provide legal support for such cases in the field.
It should be noted that this is still only a recommendation: the final decision rests with the State Department. Nevertheless, according to two U.S. officials, there is little chance that the new Secretary of State Marco Rubio (who will take office after the 2024 presidential election) will be in favour of retaining most of the programmes. One source admitted that Rubio might support only the ‘highest-priority initiatives.’
This move has been a subject of concern to human rights activists and members of the global legal community. In their perception, the withdrawal of funds can substantially weaken efforts towards bringing justice to victims of war in Ukraine and other conflict-stricken regions. This is so especially in cases that require extensive evidence collection, witness testimonies and international coordination.
This proposal also raises questions on a U.S. policy strategic level. Support for pursuing war crime investigations has long been seen inWashington as a way of enhancing international order and challenging impunity. Backing away from such efforts can be seen as a sign of declining commitment to the values themselves.
At the time, the State Department had not made an official comment on OMB’s proposal. The decision will be reached within the coming weeks.
