January 26, 2005

Canada Should Support Strong UN Response to Darfur Crimes

The World Federalist Movement - Canada (WFMC) is calling for Canada to take a lead role in urging the United Nations Security Council to respond more effectively to the humanitarian crimes that have been committed in the Darfur region of Western Sudan.

“Canada must speak out loudly and clearly for decisive action by the UN Security Council,” says WFMC President, Warren Allmand.

A UN Commission reported this week on the violations of humanitarian law in Sudan. The Commission, chaired by Antonio Cassese, of Italy, calls for more robust action by the UN, including a reference by the Security Council to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

According to Allmand, “The Commission states authoritatively what the world has known for far too long. The government of Sudan is unable and unwilling to protect its own citizens.”

Canada has promoted the Responsibility to Protect doctrine, has championed the creation of the ICC and has pledged its support for the efforts of the African Union in Darfur.

“This is precisely the type of situation for which the ICC was created,” says Allmand.

Only the Security Council has the authority to trigger prosecution of war crimes committed in Sudan, because the country is not among the 97 states that have ratified the 1998 treaty that created the ICC.

The U.S. government is divided on the appropriate response to the UN Commission. On one hand the U.S. opposes the ICC out of fears that U.S. nationals might some day come before the court. On the other hand the U.S. has declared the situation in Sudan a genocide, and does not want to be seen to back down from its claims said that Sudanese leaders bear responsibility for crimes committed in Darfur.


FOR MORE INFORMATION
Warren Allmand WFM-C President, (514) 486-1811
Fergus Watt WFM-C Executive Director (613) 232-0647