Human Rights Watch calls for ICC intervention to protect Darfur civilians
Sudan Events-Follow-ups
Human Rights Watch said today that the US government’s announcement on December 6 that the warring parties had committed atrocity crimes in Sudan must be followed by strong measures to stop violations and ensure accountability.
The United States declared that war crimes and crimes against humanity had occurred during the last eight months of conflict in Sudan. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said in a statement that both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces committed war crimes. Secretary Blinken said the RSF and allied militias are also responsible for crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.
“The United States’ identification of the horrific crimes unfolding in Sudan sends an important message to victims that their suffering is known,” said Nicole Federsheim, deputy director of Human Rights Watch in Washington. “But to serve as a deterrent to further abuses and help protect civilians, they must be accompanied by a change in U.S. Administration policy and concrete measures.” He added.
Human Rights Watch said that recognition of these serious violations of international humanitarian law must be accompanied by specific measures to ensure that those responsible are held accountable, and that the world takes action to protect civilians in Sudan.
“The United States Administration knows the scale of what is unfolding before its eyes, and it should not choose to look away,” Federsheim said. “It can begin by mobilizing support for accountability efforts, including those of the International Criminal Court, and working to fill the civilian protection void in Darfur.” He added .
