ICC Prosecutor visits Central African Republic to meet with victims and local population
Media Advisory
ICC Prosecutor visits Central African Republic to meet with victims and local population
ICC-OTP-20080121-MA002
On January 24, International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo will travel to the Central African Republic (CAR) where he opened an investigation into allegations of massive crimes.
While in Bangui the Prosecutor will meet with victims, representatives of civil society and local population. He will participate in a public dialogue, to be widely broadcast through radio IRfJ. He will answer questions and discuss with people throughout CAR the significance of ICC for them.
The Prosecutor will also meet senior government officials. He will visit the ICC local field office, which opened in October 2007.
The Office of the Prosecutor announced the opening of the investigation in CAR on 22 May 2007. It focuses on crimes which were mainly committed during the violence of 2002–2003. The particularly high number of allegations of rape and other acts of sexual violence is one of the main features of the investigation.
“Hundreds of terrified women have been subjected to the ordeal of sexual violence” said the Prosecutor. “We hear of gang rapes, mass rapes, horrific sexual acts being inflicted on women, young girls, the elderly, in some cases on men. Perpetrators of acts of massive sexual violence, in CAR and elsewhere, must know that they will be held accountable: such acts are serious crimes falling under ICC jurisdiction and they will be prosecuted”
The Office is also monitoring acts of violence committed since 2005 in the northern part of the country. The Prosecutor will address national accountability efforts with the CAR authorities. He will urge international support for all efforts to end impunity.
“The people of Central African Republic need to know the world has not forgotten them” the Prosecutor said. “Our investigative activities in CAR can bring to the attention of the international community the terrible problems facing the people here and the need to address them urgently. We need comprehensive solutions for CAR and the support of all. International justice is one part of the solution“.
The International Criminal Court is an independent, permanent court that investigates and prosecutes persons accused of the most serious crimes of international concern, namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Nicola Fletcher,
OTP Media Liaison
[email protected]
+31 (0)70 515 8071 (office)
+31 (0) 6 5098 0473 (mobile)
Ms. Florence Olara,
OTP Public Information Coordinator
[email protected]
+31 (0)70 515 8723 (office)
+31 (0) 6 5029 4476 (mobile)
Source: Office of the Prosecutor