Statement by H.E. Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Latvia at the ICC Prosecutor’s Briefing to the UN Security Council on the Situation in Darfur
New York, 19 January 2025
Mr. President,
We thank the Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan of the International Criminal Court for her comprehensive briefing and for the continued efforts of the Office of the Prosecutor to advance accountability for crimes committed in Darfur. We note with regret that the Deputy Prosecutor was unable to brief the Council in person today, as mandated by the Security Council.
Thousand days after the war began in Sudan, Darfur remains the epicentre of atrocity crimes. Accountability must accelerate. Against this backdrop, I would like to highlight three points.
First, we welcome the renewed engagement and cooperation of the Sudanese authorities with the Office of the Prosecutor. We view this cooperation as a positive development and an important step towards justice for victims and survivors.
At the same time, we underline that cooperation with the Court is a legal obligation arising from this Council’s referral, and we therefore expect sustained and tangible progress going forward. Constructive cooperation, including the arrest and surrender of all suspects is essential to restore trust, reinforce the rule of law and ensure that accountability efforts can deliver meaningful results.
We also underscore the value of strengthened coordination between the ICC and other accountability mechanisms, including the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan, as well as continued engagement with civil society organizations documenting violations.
Second, the atrocities committed in Darfur more than twenty years ago went largely unpunished. Our collective failure to ensure accountability has normalized impunity, laying the foundation for the sinister violations today. Attacks against civilians, widespread violence, and impunity persists due to the failure to arrest perpetrators and enforce accountability and that sent a clear message that violence would go unpunished.
In this context, we note the importance of the recent conviction of Ali Kushayb. This judgment is a significant milestone, yet it also highlights the remaining accountability gap. Justice can only be achieved if all those responsible are held to account. It is therefore imperative that Omar Al-Bashir, Abdel Raheem Muhammad Hussein, and Ahmad Harun are arrested and surrendered to the Court, in line with Sudan’s cooperation obligations.
At the same time, accountability efforts must continue to address crimes being committed today, particularly conflict-related sexual violence – perpetrated predominantly by the RSF and affiliated militias. Reports of rape and other forms of sexual violence, often targeting women and girls from specific ethnic communities, are deeply alarming and underscore a fundamental truth, that where justice is absent, violations recur.
Third, we commend the institutional reforms undertaken by the ICC to enhance efficiency, prioritization, and the timely conduct of investigations. Measures that strengthen investigative capacity, improve evidence gathering, and streamline court processes are essential, particularly in long-standing situations such as Darfur.
We expect that these reforms will also contribute to advancing reparations proceedings initiated following the conviction, which constitute a vital pillar of justice for victims and survivors.
Through such reforms, the Court strengthens deterrence, reinforces victims' rights and contributes to international peace and security - objectives that lie at the very heart of this Council’s mandate. On this note, I commend the Office for prioritizing the investigation of gender-based crimes and crimes against children, which too often receive insufficient attention.
We further stress the importance of safeguarding the independence of the Court and the international judicial system as a whole. Recent developments that place increasing pressure on judicial independence are a cause for concern and risk undermining the integrity and effectiveness of international justice.
Thank you!