Niccolo’ Figa-Talamanca, Secretary-General of No Peace Without Justice, and Matteo Mecacci, MP radical-PD, will take part today, Friday 17 April, at 11.30 am, in a press conference at the Italian Parliament to present the program for the initiative “Global Day for Darfur”, which in Italy will be celebrated at the Colosseum, in Rome, on Sunday 19 April from 10.30 am.
This worldwide day of mobilisation is directed to support the full and effective deployment of the UN peacekeeping mission and to reiterate the call for a strong intervention by the international community to put an end to the atrocities perpetrated in Darfur. The Global Day is being organised in Italy by ‘Italians for Darfur’ and supported by No Peace Without Justice, the Transnational Nonviolent Radical Party and Radical Italiani, together with many other associations promoting human rights
Statement by Niccoló Figa-Talamanca, Secretary-General of No Peace Without Justice, and Matteo Mecacci, MP radical-PD:
“This year the Global Day for Darfur has a particular relevance considering the deteriorating humanitarian situation on the ground and the issuance of an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
We believe that with this decision, the Court has shown itself to be able to give an important response to the cries for justice from the people of Darfur, even against the most powerful, and we are convinced that the indictment, arrest and trial of President Al-Bashir will prove to be an important component of reaching a lasting peace in Sudan.
We call on the international community, and in particular, the European Union and all States Parties to the ICC, to take the side of the victims and to be equally firm in their support for the ICC, in order to put an end to impunity for those who allegedly bear the greatest responsibility for the instigation and planning of policies and campaigns involving large-scale violations of international criminal law in Darfur.
We also urge the Italian government to abide by its commitments made before the Committee on Justice of the Chamber of Deputies for scheduling, as soon as possible, the discussion on the draft implementing legislation of the ICC Rome Statute, whose enforcement is necessary to allow national courts and the Italian authorities to cooperate with the Court in its investigations and prosecutions.
Following the harsh attacks directed at the ICC after the issuance of an arrest warrant against President Al-Bashir, it is even more urgent for Italy to reiterate, with a concrete act, its support for the claim of justice for peace as a prerequisite of the International Criminal Court. ”
For further information, contact Alison Smith at asmith@npwj.org or +32-486-986 235 or Nicola Giovannini on ngiovannini@npwj.org or +32-2-548-39 14.
