ICC Briefing: Collective Torture and War Crimes in Darfur

Escalating Crisis in Darfur

• ⚠️ The situation in Darfur has significantly worsened, with collective torture being inflicted upon its people.
• 🎯 A calculated campaign targeting non-Arab communities is underway, involving rape, arbitrary detention, executions, and mass graves.
• 📹 Many atrocities are being filmed and celebrated by perpetrators, highlighting a profound sense of impunity.

ICC Investigations and Evidence

• 🔬 The International Criminal Court (ICC) is actively collecting evidence, including video, audio, and satellite data, to investigate crimes in Al Fasher and Al Janah.
• 🔍 Analysis confirms war crimes and crimes against humanity in Al Fasher, with patterns of atrocities similar to those seen in other Darfur regions.
• 👥 Evidence includes witness accounts of attacks on displaced persons camps, pillaging, and gender-based crimes, indicating a replication of past atrocities.

Gender-Based Crimes and Accountability

• 🩸 Sexual violence, including rape, is being systematically used as a tool of war in Darfur.
• 🤝 The ICC is prioritizing culturally and gender-sensitive investigations, working with affected communities and UN partners.
• ⚖️ Reports of Rome Statute crimes allegedly committed by the Sudan Armed Forces are also being documented.

Landmark Conviction and Future Justice

• 🌟 Ali Muhammad Abdul Rahman (Ali Kushayb) was convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity, marking the first conviction from a Security Council referral and for gender-based persecution in the Darfur situation.
• 🔑 This conviction, while a step, is set against the backdrop of ongoing suffering, and the ICC aims for it to be a catalyst for broader accountability.
• 🤝 Continued cooperation from partners, including states and civil society, is essential to build on this progress and address the scale of suffering.

Call for Cooperation and Action

• 🚫 The ICC urges the Government of Sudan to seriously cooperate in arresting individuals subject to ICC arrest warrants, specifically prioritizing Ahmed Harun.
• 🌍 Expanded cooperation, including sharing intelligence, supporting witness interviews, and providing visas, is crucial for the ICC's investigations.
• 💬 Victims emphasize that justice and dignity are fundamental human rights, and the ICC, with council support, can provide a path to accountability.
• 🚀 The ICC stands ready to work with all partners to deliver justice for victims and create a firewall of accountability against further atrocities.