Today, April 7, 2017, South Africa will appear before the International Criminal Court (ICC) to explain the country’s failure to arrest and surrender Sudanese president and ICC suspect, Omar al-Bashir. The International Justice Project’s Executive Director, Monica Feltz, is attending the hearing along with Darfurian victims who have long awaited justice in the Bashir case. “While we are incredibly disappointed that our request to participate in today’s hearing was not granted by the Chamber, we believe it’s important for victims to be present and accounted for during this historic hearing, and that their voices and stories continue to be heard,” Feltz States.

Wanda M. Akin and Raymond M. Brown, Legal Representatives of Victims from Darfur in the Bashir Case, state, “This Hearing represents a vital and historic opportunity for the Court to demonstrate that its charges must be taken with extraordinary seriousness by State Parties to its Treaty. And furthermore, it is essential to the Court’s viability that it will Brook no interference with two core principles: that all accused persons will receive fair trials; and that any person charged with Genocide will face justice with the active assistance of State Parties. We anticipate that the Court will send an unmistakable message that open defiance of its writ will not be permitted to deprive victims of Genocide of justice, particularly those who like our victim-clients in Darfur, have risked their lives to participate.”