Statement by H.E. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, at Security Council Briefing on the 39th Report of the Prosecutor of the ICC to the United Nations under Resolution 1593 (2005) - Sudan

Thank you, Mr. President

Allow me to congratulate you, Sierra Leone, on the assumption of the Presidency to the Council. Rest assured of Guyana’s support. We also thank the Russian Federation for their skillful presidency last month.

I thank the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Mr. Karim Khan, for his sobering presentation of the 39th report on the situation in Darfur and welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Sudan in today’s meeting.

I reiterate Guyana’s support for the efforts of the Office of the Prosecutor to fight impunity and to bring perpetrators to justice for the gravest of crimes wherever they are committed. In this instance, justice for the people of Darfur and an end to impunity are key to achieving peace and security.

We are gravely concerned about the continued massive scale of crimes committed in Darfur, particularly gender-based crimes, crimes against children, and indiscriminate targeting of civilian populations and objects, among others.

Against this background of agony and misery, as emphasized by Prosecutor Khan in his briefing, Guyana welcomes the progress made by the Prosecutor’s Office in investigating these crimes and the increased collection of information and evidence including through field deployments in Chad, Port Sudan, and other locations. We also view positively the intensified engagement with civil society organizations, affected communities, victims and survivors.                

Mr. President

Continued cooperation between the Sudanese authorities and the Office of the Prosecutor is critical to ensuring justice for the people of Darfur. We welcome the Prosecutor’s report of improved cooperation with the Sudanese authorities, in particular, the execution of outstanding requests for assistance and the provision of visas for staff members of the Office.

We also view as positive the support provided by the Office of the Prosecutor to national authorities in the investigation of potential perpetrators, as part of the enhanced complementarity initiatives of the Office.

It must also be underscored that continued cooperation and assistance between the Office of the Prosecutor and national authorities of third States is essential to the progress of the investigative activities of the Office.

Guyana welcomes the progress made in the trial of Mr Abd-Al-Rahman, noting that the Office of the Prosecutor is preparing for the final stages of trial. We also take note of the outstanding fugitives whose cases are yet to be adjudicated. We urge the Sudanese authorities to take all necessary steps to secure the arrest and surrender of these fugitives to the Court.

Ensuring accountability for atrocities is crucial in preventing future crimes and building a foundation for lasting peace, and all efforts must be made to this end.

Mr. President

As justice is pursued for the crimes committed in Sudan, so too must efforts to achieve sustainable peace for its beleaguered peoples.

The Council continues to receive gravely concerning reports of continued violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law in Sudan which are resulting in immense suffering of the population. We call on all parties to stop further violations and to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian objects and delivery of humanitarian aid. It is crucial that children are given the special protection they are entitled to under international law.

Guyana also remains deeply concerned about the dire humanitarian crisis. The worsening food insecurity situation, as evidenced by famine, as well as the situation for internally displaced persons are of particular concern. We applaud the efforts of United Nations agencies, civil society organizations, and other agencies in providing vital humanitarian assistance. We urge the parties to the conflict to ensure such aid reaches those in need. We also encourage the international community to scale up humanitarian aid in Darfur.

In closing, Mr. President, Guyana reaffirms its unwavering support for the International Criminal Court and the work of the Office of the Prosecutor to achieve justice for the atrocities committed in Darfur.

I thank you.