Statement by Her Excellency Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, at the briefing on the 40th Report of the Prosecutor of the ICC to the UN under Resolution 1593 (2005) on the situation in Darfur

Statement by Her Excellency Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana to the United Nations, at the briefing on the 40th Report of the Prosecutor of the ICC to the United Nations under Resolution 1593 (2005) on the situation in Darfur - 27 January 2025

Mr. President,

I thank you Prosecutor Karim Khan, for your presentation of the 40th report pursuant to Security Council resolution 1593 and for your sobering briefing. I also welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Sudan in today’s meeting.

Guyana welcomes the report on implementation of the mandate in resolution 1593. We note, in particular, that the trial of Abd Al-Rahman is the first trial to be completed based on a referral by the Security Council for crimes committed in Darfur over 20 years ago.

We commend the Office of the Prosecutor for the efforts in bringing the trial to conclusion and look forward to the delivery of the decision this year.

Mr. President,

It is recognized that the advancement we are seeing addressing crimes committed some 2 decades ago, comes at a time when the people of Darfur are enduring another wave of immense suffering.

We are deeply concerned that since commencement of armed hostilities in April 2023, the situation in Darfur has continuously deteriorated with allegations of numerous crimes including killings, pillaging, attacks against internally displaced persons camps, indiscriminate targeting of civilian populations, gender-based crimes, and crimes against and affecting children.

We note the Prosecutor’s report of ongoing investigations, and that sufficient evidence has been collected to confirm that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a wide range of crimes under the Rome Statute have been committed and continue to be committed in Darfur, and that final steps are being taken to present applications for arrest warrants with respect to those responsible.

Guyana underscores that accountability is necessary for delivering justice for victims, holding perpetrators to account and preventing future atrocities. The swift investigation and prosecution of crimes can help to stem the current wave of terror in Sudan. We agree with the report’s statement that ‘lack of accountability for past crimes emboldens the perpetrators of today’ and that the just concluded trial of Abd Al-Rahman is not only of value in relation to past crimes but can also impact the current situation.

We are encouraged by the report of cooperation between the Government of Sudan and the Office of the Prosecutor, particularly the efforts of the government to respond to requests for assistance from the ICC both in the context of investigations into ongoing crimes and the old cases. However, we emphasize that cooperation must also extend to the arrest and surrender of the outstanding suspects.

We also urge the national authorities of third States to provide the necessary cooperation and assistance to the Office of the Prosecutor and note, in this regard, the facilitation provided by the Chadian authorities. We commend the Office of the Prosecutor for the continued engagement with civil society organizations, affected communities, and victims, recognizing their crucial contributions to the investigations.

Mr. President,

As efforts continue to seek justice for the people of Sudan, Guyana reiterates its call for an immediate ceasefire and the resumption of the process towards reaching a lasting and inclusive political solution in Sudan. We further reiterate that the parties to the conflict must respect international law including international humanitarian law and human rights law.

Mr. President,

Guyana underscores the critical role of the International Criminal Court as an independent and impartial judicial institution. The ICC represents the commitment of the international community to never allow heinous crimes, such as those committed during World War II, to go unpunished.

We are deeply concerned about the recent sanctions imposed against the officials of the Court and emphasize that these measures are likely to obstruct its ongoing investigations into crimes, potentially delaying or denying victims across the world the justice they are anxiously awaiting. We are also concerned of the impacts of such measures on our overall efforts to end impunity. We reiterate that the Officials of the Court, its personnel, and those cooperating with it must remain free from sanctions, threats, and intimidation.

I also take this opportunity to emphasize the role of the Security Council in promoting justice for victims and accountability for grave crimes as necessary measures to address threats to international peace and security.

In closing, Mr. President Guyana reaffirms its unwavering support to the International Criminal Court and the Office of the Prosecutor.

I thank you.