Darfur victims sue Sudanese government in ICC

CONTACT:
– Ciatta Z. Baysah
[email protected]
Tel: 973-623-6834

Oct 17, 2006 (Newark, New Jersey) — Raymond M. Brown and Wanda M. Akin-Brown are trial lawyers and 2 of only 26 American attorneys admitted to practice before the International Criminal Court (ICC or Court) in The Hague. Akin-Brown maintains a private law practice in Newark, New Jersey and has been a guest commentator on numerous television news programs including Court TV and MSNBC. Brown is a partner in the Litigation Department at Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith and Davis LLP and Chair of the White Collar Defense and Corporate Compliance Practice Group. He hosts the Emmy Award winning New Jersey Network program Due Process and the national syndicate Inside the Law. Together they teach International Criminal Law at Seton Hall University’s John C. Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations.

The Browns, in conjunction with Darfur Rehabilitation Project, Inc. (DRP), a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization formed by Darfurians in response to the human rights violations in their homeland, submitted the first applications on behalf of victims of the Darfur Crisis to participate in the criminal proceedings before the ICC. Having consulted with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and practiced before the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the Browns now focus their attention on providing victims of the Darfur a voice at the ICC.

The Browns and DRP, embarked on this historic achievement in January 2005 with a request, from DRP, for advice on granting Darfurian victims access to the Court. DRP has since enlisted the Browns to represent victims and acts as a conduit for identifying victims.

The UN Security Council referred the Crisis to the Court via UN Resolution 1593 (2005). The Rome Statute, which established the ICC, grants victims rights to participate in the Court’s proceedings from the investigation phase through appeal – a first in the international criminal justice system – only after victims file formal applications with the ICC and they are approved by a Pre-Trial Chamber of Judges to participate.

In June 2006, the Browns traveled to The Hague and filed applications with the ICC to formally begin the process of representing Darfurians. Registry Officials at The ICC recognized the Browns for being the first to submit applications on behalf of victims of the Darfur Crisis.

At this stage, the Browns have identified and compiled data from potential victims of the Darfur Diaspora in Sudan, Chad and the United States, including Indiana, Maine, New Hampshire and New York. To assist in this process, New Jersey health care professionals have volunteered to provide medical and mental health services to victims. Information from these examinations will enhance pending and future applications.

The Browns are accepting additional pre-applications for Darfurian victims. Victims include any person against whom an offence may have been committed including economic loss and physical, emotional or mental harm caused to the victim. The harm or loss must have occurred in Sudan after July 1, 2002. Darfurians in the Diaspora need not have been in Sudan if a close family member suffered harm or loss. Additionally, Darfurians may apply on behalf of victims who currently reside in Sudan. If you are a victim or have information on victims, please contact us via email at [email protected] or via phone at 973-623-6834.

For more information on the Browns refer to www.BrownAkin.com. For more information on Darfur Rehabilitation Project refer to www.darfurrehab.org.