Article 16
Question and Answer
On July 14, 2008, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) requested an arrest warrant for Sudan President Omar al-Bashir on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes for orchestrating the abusive counterinsurgency campaign in Sudan’s Darfur region. The government of Sudan has sought to block the issuance of an arrest warrant against al-Bashir by convincing African states on the United Nations Security Council to seek a delay at the International Criminal Court. The African Union and the Organization of the Islamic Conference have asked the Security Council to defer ICC proceedings for twelve months.
August 15, 2008 Questions and Answers
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Letter to the Government of Turkey in Advance of President al-Bashir's Visit
August 15, 2008 Letter
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Turkey: Support Justice in Darfur
Turkey Should Reject Calls to Suspend the ICC Investigation
The Turkish government should reject efforts by Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir to secure a suspension of the International Criminal Court’s investigation against him, Human Rights Watch said in a letter today. Turkey should also convey a clear message that Khartoum must not respond to the investigation with retaliation against civilians, peacekeepers, or humanitarian workers.
President Bashir will be in Turkey for the Turkish-African Summit on August 19-20, 2008. Human Rights Watch expressed concern that Turkey chose to welcome al-Bashir, who is currently subject to a request for a warrant at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, and whose armed forces continue to carry out attacks on civilians in Darfur.
August 15, 2008 Press Release
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Sudan: End Sham Trials by Anti-Terror Courts
30 Men Sentenced to Death After Unfair Trials
Sudan’s Anti-Terrorism Special Courts in late July sentenced 30 alleged rebels to death in trials that fell far short of international fair trial standards, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch urged the government to abolish the hastily created special courts and instead prosecute all cases in the regular courts according to the 2005 National Interim Constitution.
The special court trials began on June 18, 2008 in Khartoum, Khartoum North and Omdurman. The chief justice hastily established the special courts on May 29 to try individuals accused of participating in the May 10 attack on the capital, Khartoum, by the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebel group. The death sentences were handed down on July 29 and 31.
August 6, 2008 Press Release
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Standing Firm against Impunity
By Sara Darehshori
Published in El Mundo
Many people in Bosnia and beyond thought they would never see Radovan Karadzic standing before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). It seemed almost beyond the dreams of the rape victims that I interviewed in Bosnia in 1993, or those held in concentration camps But even then, in the midst of the conflict and in very difficult circumstances, local civilians had painstakingly gathered detailed testimonies from survivors in the hope that one day, there would be justice for these crimes. Even after the Yugoslav tribunal was established and had issued indictments against Karadzic for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, it seemed unlikely that he would ever be arrested. And yet this week he faced a panel of judges for his role in the massacre of men and boys after the fall of Srebrenica in July 1995, as well ascrimes in various cities across Bosnia, including the shelling of Sarajevo during the city’s siege.
August 1, 2008 Commentary
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UN: Renewed Peacekeeper Mandate for Darfur
US Abstains in Support of ICC Case Against Sudan’s President
The Security Council’s renewal of the mandate for peacekeepers in Darfur without delaying legal proceedings against Sudan’s president reaffirms a commitment to justice and security for Sudanese civilians, Human Rights Watch said today.
July 31, 2008 Press Release
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Serbia's Lessons for Sudan
By Steve Crawshaw, UN advocacy director for Human Rights Watch
Published in The Guardian Online
The fact that Radovan Karadzic will face trial has important ramifications for the case against Omar Bashir, which must not now be delayed. Most obviously, the arrest of Radovan Karadzic is good news for the victims of the Bosnian war and their relatives. As one woman in Srebrenica said this week: "Justice is achievable, after all." But this remarkable moment has a broader historic importance, too.
July 24, 2008 Commentary
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Sudan: Restore Security in Abyei
Two Months After Clashes Destroyed Town, Civilians Remain Unable to Return
Tens of thousands of civilians are still unable to return to the contested town of Abyei, two months after half of the town was destroyed in fighting, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
July 22, 2008 Press Release
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Abandoning Abyei
Destruction and Displacement, May 2008
 | This 32-page report documents human rights violations committed by SAF forces and allied militia before, during, and after clashes with Sudanese Peoples’ Liberation Army (SPLA) of Southern Sudan between May 13 and 21. Abyei inhabitants who had fled south of the town told Human Rights Watch that SAF soldiers shot civilians who were trying to flee, and detained and then arbitrarily killed others. |
HRW Index No.: 1-56432-364-1
July 22, 2008 Report
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Sudan: Restore Security in Abyei
 | Tens of thousands of civilians are still unable to return to the contested town of Abyei, two months after half of the town was destroyed in fighting. A Human Rights Watch investigation in June 2008 documented the deaths of at least 18 civilians in the fighting in mid-May, most of them deliberately killed by Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) or allied militia. |
July 22, 2008 Graphic
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Whose interests does justice serve?
Published in European Voice
The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) took a bold and controversial step when, on 14 July, he requested an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Bashir on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
July 18, 2008 Commentary
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Sudan, justice and peace
By Sara Darehshori, Senior Counsel, International Justice Program, Human Rights Watch and Suliman Baldo, Africa Director, the International Center for Transitional Justice
Published in New Statesman Online
If the government of Sudan is allowed to use threats of additional violence to dispel the possibility of justice, the victims of Darfur are ultimately betrayed
July 16, 2008 Commentary
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Doing the right thing for Darfur
An ICC indictment of Sudan’s president serves peace and justice
Published in Los Angeles Times
Last July, I went to Chad to look into how the International Criminal Court, which has a field office in Abeche and works with refugees in the camps, is performing on the ground. As part of my assessment, I interviewed dozens of refugees.
July 15, 2008 Commentary
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International Criminal Court’s Action Against al-Bashir
Question and Answer
On July 14, 2008, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) requested a warrant of arrest for Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir on charges of ten counts of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. The request for a warrant raises a number of questions, answers for some of which are below.
July 14, 2008 Questions and Answers
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Darfur: ICC Moves Against Sudan’s Leader
Charges Against al-Bashir a Major Step to Ending Impunity
The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor’s request for an arrest warrant against Sudan’s president is a significant step towards ending impunity for the horrific crimes in Darfur, Human Rights Watch said today. On July 14, 2008, the court’s prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, asked Pre-Trial Chamber I to issue an arrest warrant for President Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir on charges of crimes against humanity and genocide.
July 14, 2008 Press Release
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War Criminals, Watch Out
The pace of proceedings is quickening at the International Criminal Court. On July 3, Jean-Pierre Bemba, the former vice president of Congo charged with war crimes, arrived in custody in The Hague. And today, July 14, the ICC prosecutor is expected to request new arrest warrants based on alleged crimes in Darfur against senior Sudanese officials, reportedly including the Sudanese president. Those are real accomplishments for a judicial institution whose underlying statute is now seeing only its 10th birthday.
July 14, 2008 Commentary
ICC: Good Progress Amid Missteps in First Five Years
Court Needs Continuing International Support for Challenges Ahead
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has made notable progress in bringing justice for the worst crimes despite mistakes in policy and practice, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today that assesses the court’s first five years. Human Rights Watch urged greater international support of the ICC to meet the political and financial challenges ahead.
July 11, 2008 Press Release
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Enforcing the International Prohibition on the Juvenile Death Penalty
Submission for the Secretary-General's report on a death penalty moratorium
Human Rights Watch's submission documents laws and practices resulting in the death penalty against juvenile offenders in the five countries known to have executed juvenile offenders since January 2005: Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen.
July 7, 2008 Legal Submissions
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When peace talks undermine justice
Published in International Herald Tribune
Diplomats, judges, lawyers, human rights activists and members of nongovernmental organizations are currently marking the 10th anniversary of the completion of the treaty that established the International Criminal Court. The court's creation was an extraordinary step in extending the reach of law to those responsible for the mass slaughter of civilians and the use of rape as a weapon of war.
July 4, 2008 Commentary
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Sudan: End Unfair Trials
Special Trials of Defendants in May 10 Attack Violate International Standards
The Anti-Terrorism Special Courts set up by the government of Sudan to try individuals accused of participating in the May 10, 2008 attack on the capital by a Darfur rebel group do not meet minimum international fair trial standards, Human Rights Watch said today.
June 25, 2008 Press Release
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