Madam President, I thank Prosecutor Khan for his thirty-eighth report on the Situation in Darfur and for his detailed briefing today.
I also welcome the participation of the representative of Sudan at today’s Council meeting.
Let me begin with the proceedings currently ongoing before the International Criminal Court. The UK welcomes the continued progress in the trial of Mr Abd-Al Rahman. This is the first trial to come before the ICC in the Darfur Situation. The case is an important milestone for victims and for affected communities who have suffered for far too long.
We note, however, that the other suspects with outstanding arrest warrants have not yet been surrendered to the Court. To date, those in power in Sudan have failed to provide the ICC with the necessary cooperation.
We therefore call upon the Sudanese authorities to respond substantively to the Office of the Prosecutor’s request for information, as to the whereabouts of Ahmed Harun, Abdel Raheem Hussein and Omar Al-Bashir.
We also urge the Sudanese authorities and all other relevant parties to cooperate fully with the ICC, including in relation to the 35 outstanding requests for assistance referred to by the Prosecutor’s thirty-eighth report and in his briefing today.
Turning to the current situation in Sudan the UK is alarmed by the continuation of the conflict, including in Darfur. We are deeply concerned at allegations that further atrocities have been committed in recent months, including credible reports of arbitrary arrests and detentions, violence targeted at specific ethnic groups and conflict-related sexual violence.
The UK condemns alleged atrocities committed by all parties to the conflict and reminds both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces that the Prosecutor’s mandate in Darfur is ongoing.
In this very challenging context, we welcome the Office of the Prosecutor’s deployment of investigative teams to the region. We also welcome the Office’s other ongoing work on the ground, including with victims, affected communities and civil society organisations in the region.
Madam President, let me conclude by expressing our continued support to the Court in delivering justice for the people of Darfur and ending this cycle of impunity.
Thank you, Madam President.
