ABA President William H. Neukom: International Criminal Court Upholds Rule of Law by Pursuing Sudanese Genocide Charges

WASHINGTON, DC, July 17, 2008 –The ABA applauds the recent action of Luis Moreno-Ocampo, prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, in filing 10 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes against Omar Hassan al-Bashir, president of Sudan.

Since the United Nations first recognized genocide 60 years ago, it has stood in infamy as the most horrific crime under international law.  Today, a sitting head of government stands publicly, formally and carefully accused by the ICC prosecutor of seeking to destroy other ethnic groups.  By means of responsible filings and due process proceedings, the ICC can fulfill its purpose of ensuring that the most powerful people accused of the worst crimes are held accountable, and that their potential emulators are deterred.  This matter will now move to the next phase: a fair and impartial determination of whether the prosecutor’s evidence warrants a trial.