UNA-USA Statement in Support of ICC Arrest Warrant For Omar al-Bashir, President of Sudan, for Alleged Atrocities in DarfurMarch 4, 2009. Ambassador William H. Luers, president of the United Nations Association of the USA, issued the following statement about the International Criminal Court’s Darfur investigation: UNA-USA praises today’s decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant for Omar al-Bashir, president of Sudan, in a step toward accountability for the atrocities in Darfur. The judges found sufficient evidence to charge President Bashir with seven counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, extermination and rape. This marks the first time the ICC has issued a warrant for a sitting head of state. UNA-USA has consistently supported the creation and development of the ICC through its national conventions’ resolutions and statements. UNA-USA also has its own ICC program, the American NGO Coalition for the ICC, or AMICC. With other supporters, UNA-USA views the establishment of the court as a major, enduring success of the UN. UNA-USA is therefore encouraged that this new and important milestone for the ICC has been passed. While we at UNA-USA recognize that this action by the court may have unpredictable consequences in Sudan, we believe that the warrant for President Bashir and the ICC’s other cases demonstrate that the court is functioning according to its role as an international judicial institution. The decision of Pre-Trial Chamber I to issue the warrant makes clear that the Office of the Prosecutor presented compelling evidence to its judges. UNA-USA urges the United States to continue its leadership in opposing any Security Council action to stop the prosecution of President Bashir under Article 16 of the Rome Statute. UNA-USA calls on the US government to encourage all countries to ensure the delivery of President Bashir to the ICC.  Click here to learn more about AMICC
Download the AMICC fact sheet on Omar al-Bashir and the situation in Sudan
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