UK lawyers urge efforts to bring Darfur culprits to ICC
December 5, 2007 (LONDON) — 39 leading lawyers have today called on British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to lead international efforts to bring men suspected of war crimes in Darfur to justice in the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The signatories to the letter include leading figures in human rights in the
UK, including Helena Kennedy QC, Lord Lester of Herne Hill, Philippe Sands
QC, Professor Conor Gearty (LSE) and representatives the Human Rights
Lawyers’ Association and Bar Human Rights Committee.
In the letter, delivered to 10 Downing Street today, the lawyers say that
the UK delegation to the United Nations should use their influence on the
Security Council to publicly demand that the Khartoum regime cooperate with
ICC.
Written to coincide with today’s briefing of the Security Council by the
Chief Prosecutor of the Court – Luis Moreno-Ocampo – the letter says that,
“The ICC must be given the chance to hold to account those responsible for
these terrifying attacks.”
Professtor Philippe Sands QC of the Matrix Chambers and University College
London, said, “The International Criminal Court has an important role in
contributing to justice and protecting the people of Darfur. As a strong
supporter of the Court, we expect the British Government to play a leading
role in ensuring that the Government of Sudan transfers indictees to the
Court, in accordance with its international legal obligations.”
Jason McCue, Head of H2O Law’s Human Rights and Civil Liberties Team, said,
“The horrific violence that has swept through Darfur for almost five years
has destroyed millions of lives. The International Criminal Court offers
Darfurians a first step towards justice and it should be given the support
it needs to make the Government of Sudan comply with its demands.”
The lawyers highlighted the need for a decisive international response to
the on-going human rights abuses happening in the region. The letter says,
“The Sudanese government is one the world’s worst violators of human rights
and the death toll in Darfur – over 200,000 people – testifies to their
utter disregard for life. The ICC was created to bring the architects of
such atrocities to book – the UK Government must make sure it is able to do
so.”
(ST)