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David John Scheffer, Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues Ambassador Scheffer was nominated by President Bill Clinton to serve as the first-ever Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues on may 22, 1997, and following Senate confirmation, was sworn into office on August 5, 1997. The appointment carriers an Ambassadorial rank. This newly created post addresses serious violations of international humanitarian law anywhere in the world. Ambassador Scheffer coordinates support for the functions of the Yugoslav and Rwandan War Crimes Tribunals, heads the Atrocities Prevention Inter-Agency Working Group, and leads U.S. participation in UN negotiations for the establishment of a permanent International Criminal Court. He also coordinates U.S. efforts to establish international records and/or mechanisms of accountability for post or on-going violations of international humanitarian law in conflict areas, and assists Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in addressing the needs of victims of such atrocities. He has lectured and written extensively on international affairs and law while serving in various capacities at numerous academic and policy-making institutions including: Senior Associate in International and National Security Law at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (1989-1992); Senior Consultant on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives (1987-1989); International Affairs Fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations (1986-1987); Adjunct Professor at Columbia University (1986-1987) and Research Associate at Harvard Universityıs Center for International Affairs (1983-1984). |