Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Co-Chairmen Recognize the Third Anniversary of International Criminal Court Arrest Warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for Acts of Genocide Committed in Darfur
Washington – Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission co-chairmen Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Frank Wolf (R-VA) today recognize the three-year anniversary of the International Criminal Court's (ICC) issuance of a second arrest warrant charging Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir with three counts of genocide committed in Darfur. This indictment marked the first time that the ICC had issued an arrest warrant for the crime of genocide. On March 4, 2009, the ICC issued its first arrest warrant for Bashir, charging him with five counts of crimes against humanity, including murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture, and rape, as well as with two counts of war crimes committed in Darfur. Despite the two arrest warrants issued in March 2009 and July 2010, Bashir remains free. Additionally, a number of UN member states obligated to arrest Bashir, if he should travel to their countries, have failed to do so.
The co-chairs are increasingly concerned that Bashir, an indicted war criminal, continues to travel the globe with virtual impunity. The co-chairmen adamantly call for the arrest of Bashir on all indictments issued against him and urge the Administration to embrace a renewed and comprehensive approach in U.S. policy toward Khartoum in an effort to put an end to the humanitarian crises taking place.
The mission of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission is to promote and advocate human rights in a nonpartisan manner both inside and outside of Congress.