ICC - Prosecutor receives list prepared by Comission of Inquiry on Darfur

Prosecutor receives list prepared by Comission of Inquiry on Darfur

ICC-OTP-20050405-97

 Situation: Darfur

Please find below the statement of ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo:

This envelope contains the conclusion of the Commission of Inquiry created by the Security Council. The Commission collected thousands of documents and issued a public report. Ten hours ago, my office in The Hague received these documents. The Commission reports that there were mass killings of innocent civilians, systematic rape of girls and women, and the burning of family homes.

To protect life, the international community has joined together to end impunity in Darfur.  The Security Council has referred the case to the International Criminal Court.

Now, we have a common task - to end the culture of impunity.  As the Prosecutor, my duty in this common task is to investigate the crimes and to respect the interests of the victims.

Before I start an investigation, I have to assess the crimes and the admissibility of the case.

I will analyze the Commission’s documents and gather all other available information. I urge states and organizations with information on Darfur to provide it to my Office.

I call for partners to help me do my job, from individual citizens all over the world to governments, the African Union and the United Nations.

I have an additional duty: to assess national proceedings.  The Sudanese authorities report they have begun investigations. This could be very important. I will carefully and independently assess these proceedings.

 I will closely monitor ongoing crimes in Darfur as well as efforts to prevent and stop them.

We all have a common task: to protect life in Darfur, ending the culture of impunity.

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For further information, please contact the Spokesperson for the Office of the Prosecutor,  Yves Sorokobi on Tel. +31 (0)70 515 8560

Source: Office of the Prosecutor