International Press Release by Justice For The World (JFW) • Human Rights Awareness Foundation

(The Hague, March 4, 2009) Via an official international press release, co-signed by Justice for the World, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and 43 other human rights organizations, collectively called 'Justice for Darfur Campaign', we are today calling on the international community to ensure the prompt arrest and surrender of Sudanese president General Omar al-Bashir, following today's decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant for him. The warrant should prove to be a major step towards combating impunity associated with the horrific crimes in Darfur. President al-Bashir is now officially wanted by the court for crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Justice for the World stretches the importance for the United Nations Security Council members to remain committed to the independence of the ICC and to reject any attempt (of Sudan) to invoke article 16 of the Rome Statute, which would defer investigation and prosecution of crimes under international law in Darfur, given the nature of the crimes and evidence thereof.

The full press release of the 'Justice for darfur Campaign' (PDF-file) is located at Justice for the World. Human Rights Watch also published a separate press release based on it.

For more information about this release, please contact the persons mentioned in the release.

For more information (on stances of Justice for the World) on the Darfur situation, please visit our Campaign for Darfur or contact us in order to request an interview.