The ICC's Arrest Warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir
March 19, 2009
12pm - 1:30pm
Room 503
<Click here for webcast>
On March 4, 2009 the Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity. He is suspected of being criminally responsible, as an indirect co-perpetrator, for intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population of Darfur between April 2003 and July 2008. This arrest warrant is the first issued by the ICC for a sitting head of state.
The Center hosted a discussion looking into what this decision means for the people of Sudan, its impact on the ability of human rights groups to work openly in Darfur, and the precedent set for future international humanitarian law.
Speakers:
Diane Orentlicher, Professor of Law, Washington College of Law and the former UN Independent Expert on Combating Impunity
Niemat Ahmadi, Darfur Liaison Officer, Save Darfur Coalition
Abderrahim Sabir, Project Leader for the Civilian Protection Initiative, Human Rights Watch
Susana SáCouto (moderator), Director, War Crimes Research Office, Washington College of Law
This event was organized by the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law's Student Advisory Board