Thank you, Mr. President.
And as this is the first public meeting of the month, I wish you every success in your Presidency, and assure you of our full support during this month. I would like to thank the July Presidency for the work accomplished.
Mr. President,
Switzerland would like to thank the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Mr. Karim Khan, for presenting his 39th report on the situation in Darfur. We also welcome the participation of the representative of Sudan at this meeting.
As we discuss in this Council the various diplomatic efforts to protect civilians, guarantee humanitarian access and find a political solution, atrocities and hostilities continue unabated. Independent reports estimate that 2.5 million people will die from famine caused by the current conflict in Sudan by the end of September, with Darfur being the hardest-hit region.
Accountability for the crimes committed since 2002 remains essential to tackle the root causes of the continuing conflict and the violations committed today. For victims, survivors and their families, this is an essential condition for establishing lasting peace.
I would like to emphasize three points:
Firstly, the ICC's work is aimed at restoring hope to victims and putting an end to the cycle of violence. We note the significant progress made over the past eight months, and welcome the Prosecutor's decision to investigate incidents arising from the current hostilities, including allegations of crimes of sexual and gender-based violence and crimes against children. Switzerland continues to follow with interest the trial of Mr. Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, and welcomes the speed of the proceedings, which should be completed in 2025.
Secondly, cooperation is essential in order to enable the Court to fulfill its mandate. We note the positive evolution of the support received from the Sudanese authorities and hope that this progress will be consolidated in the future. We reiterate our call on the Sudanese authorities and the Rapid Support Forces to fulfill their obligation to cooperate at all times with the Court under Resolution 1593. We also note that initial exchanges have taken place with tribal and administrative leaders of Arab communities believed to be involved in the conflict in Darfur. Finally, we commend the strong cooperation between the Office of the Prosecutor and third countries.
Thirdly, we emphasize the important role of civil society and affected communities in ensuring that justice is done. We support the efforts undertaken to intensify collaboration between these actors and the Court, and thank all those who risk their lives daily to document the facts on the ground. In this respect, I would like to express our support for the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan established by the Human Rights Council, which also plays an important role in documenting the current conflict.
Mr. President,
For justice to be done, in Darfur and in all the situations brought before the Court, the latter must be able to carry out its work free from any interference. We reiterate our commitment to upholding and defending the principles and values enshrined in the Rome Statute, and to preserving the integrity of the Court, undeterred by any expressed threat or action taken against it. We call on States to refrain from exerting any form of pressure, and recall that such attacks on the administration of justice are prohibited by the Rome Statute.
Fifteen months after the renewed escalation of this conflict, there is still no sign of calm. The full support of the entire international community is required - without further delay - to ensure that justice is done for all the victims of this conflict, and that accountability is ensured throughout the entire territory of Sudan.
Thank you.