United States Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues
Encyclopedia
The United States Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues is the head of the Office of War Crimes Issues
in the United States Department of State
. The ambassador-at-large advises the United States
Secretary of State
directly and formulates U.S. policy responses to atrocities committed in areas of conflict and elsewhere throughout the world. As the President’s envoy, this ambassador travels worldwide engaging heads of state and international organization
s to build bilateral and international support for U.S. policies. As part of this, the ambassador visits affected countries and uses a range of diplomatic, legal, economic, military, and intelligence tools to help secure peace and stability and build the rule of law.
Since September 11, 2001
, this ambassador has played a key role in the War on Terror
and has been the Secretary of State’s lead diplomat in engaging nations regarding their nationals captured in the field of combat. The ambassador also has primary responsibility for policy on Iraq
i war crimes.
David Scheffer
served as the first U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues (1997–2001). He was followed by Pierre-Richard Prosper
(2001–2005) and John Clint Williamson
(2006–2009).
In July 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama nominated Stephen Rapp
, a former United States Attorney
and prosecutor for the United Nations Special Court for Sierra Leone, to succeed John Clint Williamson as Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues. The Senate confirmed him on September 8, 2009, making Rapp the fourth person to hold the title.
Office of War Crimes Issues
The Office of War Crimes Issues is an office within the United States Department of State.It is charged with advising the Secretary of State and formulating U.S. policy relating to war crimes and other atrocities. The office reports to the United States Deputy Secretary of State.The Department of...
in the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
. The ambassador-at-large advises the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
directly and formulates U.S. policy responses to atrocities committed in areas of conflict and elsewhere throughout the world. As the President’s envoy, this ambassador travels worldwide engaging heads of state and international organization
International organization
An intergovernmental organization, sometimes rendered as an international governmental organization and both abbreviated as IGO, is an organization composed primarily of sovereign states , or of other intergovernmental organizations...
s to build bilateral and international support for U.S. policies. As part of this, the ambassador visits affected countries and uses a range of diplomatic, legal, economic, military, and intelligence tools to help secure peace and stability and build the rule of law.
Since September 11, 2001
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, this ambassador has played a key role in the War on Terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
and has been the Secretary of State’s lead diplomat in engaging nations regarding their nationals captured in the field of combat. The ambassador also has primary responsibility for policy on Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i war crimes.
David Scheffer
David Scheffer
David John Scheffer is an American lawyer and diplomat who served as the first United States Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues, during President Bill Clinton's second term in office. He currently teaches at the Northwestern University School of Law, where he directs the Center for...
served as the first U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues (1997–2001). He was followed by Pierre-Richard Prosper
Pierre-Richard Prosper
Pierre-Richard Prosper is an American lawyer, prosecutor and former government official. He served as the second United States Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues under President George W...
(2001–2005) and John Clint Williamson
John Clint Williamson
John Clint Williamson, a U.S. diplomat and prosecutor, has served in a variety of senior-level roles with the United States Government, the United Nations, and currently with the European Union. In October 2011, he took up his duties as the European Union's Lead Prosecutor for the EU Special...
(2006–2009).
In July 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama nominated Stephen Rapp
Stephen Rapp
Stephen J. Rapp is an American lawyer and is currently United States Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues.-Career:...
, a former United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
and prosecutor for the United Nations Special Court for Sierra Leone, to succeed John Clint Williamson as Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues. The Senate confirmed him on September 8, 2009, making Rapp the fourth person to hold the title.