Washington, DC, 19 June 2008
[The Honorable Senator Barak Obama/John McCain
Democratic/Republican Nominee for President of the United States
241/476 Russell Senate Office Building]
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator [Obama/McCain],
Congratulations on your nomination as the [Democratic/Republican] Presidential Candidate in 2008.
As concerned Americans who practice international law, especially international human rights law, we would like to direct a few short questions to you on this theme to help us determine your position in relation to the United States' obligations under international law and its participation in the international community.
1. Is it your opinion that human rights treaties the United States ratifies should be applied in US Courts?
2. Is it your opinion that customary international human rights law should be applied in US Courts?
3. Do you support the US joining the International Criminal Court by ratifying its Statute?
4. Do you support the withdrawal or termination of the article 98 (ICC Statute) agreements that US has entered into?
5. Do you support ratification of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights?
6. Do you support ratification of the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights?
7. Do you support ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child?
8. Do you support ratification of the American Convention on Human Rights?
9. Do you support accepting the unconditional jurisdiction of the InterAmerican
Court of Human Rights?
10. Do you support accepting the unconditional jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice?
11. Will your administration accept the definition of torture that has been agreed to by an international consensus?
12. Will your administration accept the definition of due process that has been agreed to by an international consensus?
We thank you for your time, look forward to your responses, and wish you the best in your campaign.
Respectful regards,
Curtis F.J. Doebbler