ICC met with Sudanese in Germany, discussed Bashir warrants

The International Criminal Court sent a team to Frankfurt, Germany to meet with Sudanese living there. In a weekly update sent yesterday, the Court said that its Outreach Unit went to the German metropolis on 16 October. The Sudanese participants asked questions about “the Rome Statute’s legal provisions to enforce the Court’s decisions, such as warrants of arrest,” said the update. More than 40 people attended the session, which was facilitated by the German non-governmental organisation Darfur Aid Foundation (Darfur-Hilf e.V.). ICC officials briefed participants on the mandate claimed by the Court, and the way that it functions. They also updated the audience about the cases involving Sudanese. Three Darfuri suspects have appeared before the Court. The case against one Darfuri rebel commander was dismissed while two others are awaiting a confirmation of charges hearing rescheduled for 8 December 2010. Three other Sudanese, including the Sudanese president and a governor, have refused to appear before the court. The ICC explained that the meeting in Frankfurt “is part of the overall strategic plan for outreach activities with regard to the situation in Darfur…” In 2010 the ICC expanded its outreach efforts aimed at Darfuris, focusing on diaspora communities in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and – less so – in Eastern Chad.

The International Criminal Court sent a team to Frankfurt, Germany to meet with Sudanese living there. In a weekly update sent yesterday, the Court said that its Outreach Unit went to the German metropolis on 16 October. The Sudanese participants asked questions about “the Rome Statute’s legal provisions to enforce the Court’s decisions, such as warrants of arrest,” said the update.

More than 40 people attended the session, which was facilitated by the German non-governmental organisation Darfur Aid Foundation (Darfur-Hilf e.V.).

ICC officials briefed participants on the mandate claimed by the Court, and the way that it functions. They also updated the audience about the cases involving Sudanese. Three Darfuri suspects have appeared before the Court. The case against one Darfuri rebel commander was dismissed while two others are awaiting a confirmation of charges hearing rescheduled for 8 December 2010. Three other Sudanese, including the Sudanese president and a governor, have refused to appear before the court.

The ICC explained that the meeting in Frankfurt “is part of the overall strategic plan for outreach activities with regard to the situation in Darfur…”

In 2010 the ICC expanded its outreach efforts aimed at Darfuris, focusing on diaspora communities in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and – less so – in Eastern Chad.