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Exercising Their Rights: Native American Nations Of The United States Enhancing Political Sovereignty Through Ratification Of The Rome Statute, Kristoffer P. Kiefer

Syracuse Journal of International Law and Commerce

The Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court (ICC) provides an ideal opportunity for Native American nations to begin attaining the rights and protections they have sought from the U.S. Government. Essentially, ratification would establish a legal relationship between Native American tribal governments and the ICC, as an international body, permitting Native American nations to interact independently with international organizations and States. Native Americans could help lay the foundation for establishing international legal personality-something previously denied by the United Nations (U.N.)-through ratification. In tum Native Americans would place pressure on the United States Government to recognize their political sovereignty. The …