For example, the Clinton Administration professes fear that an independent court might interrupt the work of the Security Council by prosecuting abusive leaders with whom the Council is trying to make peace. N.G.O.s counter that allowing each permanent member of the Council to control the I.C.C.'s docket would make justice a bargaining chip, actually emboldening those committing atrocities by suggesting they could secure amnesty for their crimes as the price for a peace accord. Similarly, against the U.S. complaint that an I.C.C. prosecutor would be unaccountable to anyone, N.G.O.s note that there would be various checks in place, from possible judicial review of indictments to the power of impeachment. Such arguments helped to convince Britain last year to become the first Security Council permanent member to break with the United States on the issue. N.G.O.s are building a similar coalition in an effort to ban the use of children under age 18 as soldiers.
Child soldiers are a large but often neglected humanitarian problem.
In such countries as Afghanistan, Burma, Liberia, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Uganda, government or rebel forces have placed an estimated quarter of a million children under arms, at times those as young as 8. The practice leaves the children physically at risk, emotionally traumatized and a danger to anyone they encounter. Again, N.G.O.s are working to build a coalition, joining a group of European governments with a broad array of others, particularly from Africa and Latin America. Apart from Russia, there is little immediate prospect that a major power will join. But as N.G.O.s point out, less than 0.5 percent of the U.S. military is composed of underage recruits.