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On April 3, 2013, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry published an article in this newspaper, explaining how the U.S. War Crimes Rewards Program had been expanded to offering up to $5 million for information that leads to the arrest, transfer or conviction of the top three leaders of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) -- Joseph Kony, Okot Odhiambo, and Dominic Ongwen, as well as the military commander of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), Sylvestre Mudacumura.

All four individuals are subject to arrest warrants by the ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity. As Secretary of State Kerry highlighted, "Impunity is the enemy of peace. Accountability is essential to preventing atrocities from taking place in the future."

This article was published a few days after the United States, together with another non-State Party, Rwanda, faced issues directly linked to the International Criminal Court in Kigali. On March 18, 2013, Bosco Ntaganda, who is subject to two ICC arrest warrants and accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), presented himself at the American Embassy in Kigali and stated that he wanted to surrender to the ICC. A few days after, Ntaganda was transferred to The Hague.

These are just a few examples of how much the ICC depends on the assistance and support not only from States' Parties to the Rome Statute, but also from non-States Parties and the broader international community for the sake of justice and accountability for atrocity crimes.

The way the Court has been operating since its establishment in 2002 has clearly shown the strengths and weaknesses of the Rome Statute as put in place in 1998. It is a court of last resort ready to step in if everything else fails, and over the past ten years it has gained wide recognition for its work. At the same time the Rome Statute system is lacking enforcement mechanisms in cases of a refusal to cooperate.

The Court certainly depends on continued assistance and support, at all levels and from different international actors. But not only that: States also should assist each other in strengthening domestic capacity to ensure that investigations and prosecutions of serious crimes of international concern can take place at the national level. As the Preamble of the Rome Statute reads, it is the "duty of every State to exercise its criminal jurisdiction over those responsible for international crimes.

As it stands now, in 2013, concerted efforts are still needed to ensure that domestic capacity to investigate and prosecute international crimes becomes a practical reality.

Follow Tiina Intelmann on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TIntelmann

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There was a time when I believed that it was the movers and shakers that could make a difference. It was the people who could do something grand, big, important -- those were the people who could make a difference that mattered and was notable. And that wasn't me!

And then one day, a light went on. I woke up in a heat controlled house, with a closet full of clothes, food in the fridge, a car to take me to my sweet job and money in my pocket. And I realized, I can make a difference! I may not be able to do something grand, big, important by the worlds standards but I can react, behave and, most importantly, share, in a way that creates a positive outcome for someone else -- someone besides me, myself and I!

While I and my many friends have been building TurningWheels For Kids, I have learned something so valuable. The low-income, disadvantaged children we serve live within families that are challenged -- financially and emotionally! There are stories, some heartbreaking! And a simple gift, a rite-of-passage, number one requested and dreamed about gift, a bike, was out of reach for these kids! Or is it?

One little boy, when given the opportunity, when asked to dream big, his eyes briefly glistened, a smile started and then, just as quickly that light faded, he shut down and he didn't dare utter what he really wanted, a bike! It was entirely too risky! That moment broke my heart! He didn't even dare to dream!

And then I started thinking -- we all have a priceless opportunity! We spend money without even thinking -- $5 for a latte, $2 for our favorite candy bar, $3 for a frozen yogurt or ice cream cone, out to lunch with our friends, $15. And then I did the math! For $9 a month for one short year, money I will not miss, I can provide a bike and a helmet through TurningWheels For Kids for a local kid! That's $.30 a day. Thirty CENTS! Can you do it? Can you step up and make a dream come true for a kid that is afraid to even dream? Just say yes! Because...

What You Do Matters!

As the holidays draw close, there are children fretting over what they are going to say when someone asks the inevitable question, "What did you get for Christmas"? What if the honest answer is nothing? Right now, today, what you choose, yes, choose to do matters a lot to a child near you. Today you have an opportunity to become a mover and shaker, maybe not by the worlds standards but certainly in the eyes of a local little girl or little boy. Are you up for the challenge? Opt in, right now, to become the person who makes a dream come true for a child that is afraid to even dream! Those kids are out there and I think those kids are worth it. Do you? Light up a child's world right now, this holiday season! Your kindness is not insignificant!

This post is part of a series co-produced by The Huffington Post and Points of Light to honor Loreal Paris' Women of Worth initiative. Women of Worth honors incredible women who are making a beautiful difference through their dedication to philanthropy and their passion for improving the world. The 10 women being honored this year were selected from thousands of nominations. Each of the honorees received $10,000 for her charitable cause from L'Oreal Paris. To learn more about Women of Worth or to submit a nomination beginning April 2013, please visit womenofworth.com.

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