Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at the UN Security Council briefing “ICC Sudan”
Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at the UN Security Council briefing “ICC Sudan”
Mr. President,
I would like to thank ICC Prosecutor Bensouda for her briefing.
Ukraine remains deeply concerned about the increased violence and insecurity in Darfur, a growing number of IDPs and restriction of humanitarian access to conflict areas, where vulnerable civilian population resides.
We strongly condemn aerial bombardments and ground attacks, resulting in hundreds of civilian deaths and destroyed villages, as well as incidents of attacks on humanitarian aid workers and peacekeepers.
We are no less concerned about reports of continued violations of the international humanitarian law and human rights, in particular sexual violence and gender-based crimes.
Mr. President,
Article 27 (1) of the Rome Statute provides that this Statute shall apply equally to all persons without any distinction based on official capacity. In particular, in their official capacity a Head of State or Government, a Member of a Government or parliament, an elected representative or a government official shall in no case be exempt from criminal responsibility under the Statute.
In this regard we believe that the arrest warrants against suspects in the ICC’s investigation into the situation in Darfur should be carried out, and that Sudan must strictly comply with its obligations.
The failure of some State Parties to the Rome Statute to carry out their obligations remains another obstacle towards delivering justice. We need to pay particular attention to these facts in the light of eleven judicial decisions on the issue of non-compliance and requests for appropriate action to be taken regarding State Parties, as well as non-State Parties, that have failed to execute the ICC arrest warrants.
However, irrespective of being party or non-party to the Rome Statute, UN member states should consolidate their efforts in the fight against impunity. By failing to bring those responsible for gravest crimes to justice, international community implicitly encourages violence in the rest of the world.
We call on all States Parties to the Rome Statute to promote cooperation and carry out the arrests of individuals wanted by the ICC in the Darfur situation.
Finally, we would like to express our full support to the Office of ICC Prosecutor in its work.
I thank you, Mr. President.