Save Darfur Coalition Welcomes ICC Ruling on Genocide Appeal

Coalition Stresses Need for Comprehensive Solution to Resolve Darfur Crisis

Download release

WASHINGTON - The Save Darfur Coalition today welcomed the decision by the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to accept an appeal by Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo over the Court’s decision last year to exclude the crime of genocide from charges faced by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. In March 2009, ICC judges issued an arrest warrant for Bashir on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes but did not include the charges of genocide requested by the Prosecutor.

The judges of the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber will now decide whether to add a genocide charge to the outstanding arrest warrant.  Previously approved charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes are not affected by today’s decision, and al-Bashir remains wanted on those charges.

The U.S. and the international community must immediately make clear to Khartoum that no retaliation against civilians, humanitarian aid operations or peacekeepers in Darfur will be tolerated. After the arrest warrant was announced last March, Bashir expelled over a dozen international aid groups and disbanded three Sudanese aid organizations, forcing an emergency response from the United Nations and international community to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur.  

“Justice and accountability are essential components of the comprehensive solution required to finally end the crisis in Darfur,” said Jerry Fowler, the president of the Save Darfur Coalition.  “President Obama and other world leaders must ensure humanitarian aid and protection for Darfuri civilians – especially following the court’s latest decision -- and push for a just and inclusive peace agreement to finally end the crisis in Darfur.”

Jerry Fowler, the president of the Save Darfur is available for comment.
Fowler is a recognized authority on the challenge of responding to genocide and crimes against humanity. He is a lawyer with a background in international justice issues and served as an NGO representative in Rome when the Rome Statute of the ICC was adopted, which led to the ICC's creation.

###

About Save Darfur Coalition: The Save Darfur Coalition – an alliance of more than 190 faith-based, advocacy and human rights organizations – raises public awareness about the ongoing genocide in Darfur and mobilizes a unified response to the atrocities that threaten the lives of people throughout the Darfur region. The coalition’s member organizations represent 130 million people of all ages, races, religions and political affiliations united together to help the people of Darfur. For more information on the coalition, please visit www.SaveDarfur