Sundance award-winning filmmakers Paco de Onis, Pamela Yates and Peter Kinoy premiered their film The Reckoning to a huge U.S. audience on Tuesday, July 14th as a featured presentation of PBS's P.O.V documentary series.
A lot has happened recently regarding the International Criminal Court. As a follow-up to the public broadcast of the film, Enough policy expert Colin Thomas-Jensen hosted a live web conference to provide an update about the recent news surrounding the ICC and take questions from the audience. Watch the video here.
The team behind the film has been hard at work putting together a website that will help those interested in the ICC get involved with the cause. Check it out.
Enough Talks with ICC Deputy Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda
After the screening of The Reckoning at the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, Enough’s Laura Heaton had a chance to speak with the International Criminal Court’s deputy prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda. Ms. Bensouda has a long-standing involvement in justice systems on both the national level in her native Gambia and internationally as a delegate to the 1998 Rome conference that established the ICC and as a prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. She has held the post of deputy prosecutor at the International Criminal Court in The Hague since 2004.
Here are some highlights from the conversation that took place on the sidelines of the international film festival.
ICC DECISION - Warrant Issued for Bashir's Arrest
The International Criminal Court in The Hague has issued an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, a historic action that marks the first time the tribunal has acted against a sitting head of state. The charges stem from a July 2008 request by ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo and include crimes against humanity and war crimes. Continue reading on our blog, Enough Said.
LATEST ANALYSIS
READ the Enough Project Statement on the NGO Expulsions by Sudan.
READ the Enough Project Joint Statement on the warrant for Omar al-Bashir.
READ the official ICC warrant for al-Bashir.
FIND information concerning ICC warrant of arrest for Omar al-Bashir, President of Sudan
LATEST MEDIA COVERAGE with Enough Experts
John Prendergast interviewed on Fox News:
A Conversation With Filmmakers Behind The Reckoning - Enough staffers Laura Heaton and Maggie Fick sit down with the filmmakers recognized at Sundance for their powerful look at the work of the court.
John Prendergast quoted in Reuters "Darfur War Crimes Case Seen Tied to Peace Prospects"
John Prendergast interviews
ABC World Saturday News | ABC World News with Charles Gibson | CNN Newsroom
Omer Ismail interviews
BBC World News America | Al Jazeera's "Inside Story"
Enough's Latest Report on ICC
The issuance of an arrest warrant for Sudan’s sitting head of state for crimes against humanity offers the Obama administration a chance to catalyze multilateral efforts to bring about a solution to Sudan’s decades-long cycle of warfare. One of the crucial missing ingredients to conflict resolution efforts has been some form of accountability for the horrific crimes against humanity that have been perpetrated by the warring parties in Sudan, primarily the Khartoum regime. Peace without justice in Sudan would only bring an illusion of stability without addressing the primary forces driving the conflict.
READ the full report, What the Warrant Means.
READ John Prendergast's interview in The Washington Times "Arrest warrant for Sudanese leader appears imminent"
International Coverage of the ICC Decision (slide show)
Building a Permanent Deterrent to Impunity: A Brief History of International Justice (slide show)
With its decision to issue an arrest warrant, the International Criminal Court, or ICC, has been all over the news recently. The court was created in response to the need for international justice to end impunity, a point ICC president Phillipe Kirsch emphasizes, and one that many forget. To that end, Enough has created a multimedia slide show narrating the history behind the ICC’s creation and the use of international justice in the post war era. The slideshow showcases trials and tribunals from Nuremberg to The Hague and emphasizes the hope that, over time, the ICC can use its permanent position within the international community to thwart grave crimes of international concern.
Yale Symposium Examines International Justice in Darfur
On February 6th, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court gave a keynote address at Yale Law School for the event, "The Pursuit of International Criminal Justice: The Case of Darfur." John Prendergast, co-chair of the Enough Project, participated in a panel discussion immediately following the Prosecutor's remarks. The panel addressed What would Peace Look Like in Darfur and included other distinguished guests, including: Michael O’Neill, U.K. Special Envoy to Darfur, Hussein Hassouna, Ambassador of the League of Arab States to the U.S., Jerry Fowler, President, Save Darfur Coalition, and Jean-Marie Guéhenno, former Under-Secretary General of Peacekeeping Operations.
WATCH video from the event:
Archives
LISTEN to Enough Project Co-founder John Prendergast speaking with Florida Community Radio WMNF 88.5.
LISTEN to Enough Project Policy Advisor Omer Ismail speaking with Nicole Murphy at the Center for American Progress on February 25 about the implications of an arrest warrant expected to be issued by the International Criminal Court for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.
LISTEN to John Norris and John Prendergast talk to the press concerning the call by the ICC prosecutor in July 2008 for an arrest warrant to be issued against Sudan president Omar al-Bashir.
LISTEN to John Norris and Colin Thomas-Jensen on this recording of the conference call with the Genocide Intervention Network concerning the call by the ICC prosecutor in May 2008 for an arrest warrant to be issued against Sudan president Omar al-Bashir.
Luis Moreno-Ocampo
 Luis Moreno-Ocampo is the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands. The ICC is expected to issue a warrant for Sudan’s president, Omar al-Bashir, within days. READ Luis Moreno-Ocampo's bio. |
Foreign Policy’s Elizabeth Allen recently spoke with International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo.
FP: How do you view the role of the United States in securing an ICC arrest warrant for Bashir, given that the country is not a signatory to the Rome Treaty that gives the ICC its mandate?
LMO: The Darfur case was referred to the court by the Security Council. In this case, there's no disagreement between U.S. policy and the Rome Treaty. All countries have to work to stop this crime. It's a challenge for the world. We are witnessing the first massive crime of genocide in the 21st century and for the last five years we did nothing efficient to stop to the crimes. We are providing material assistance, yes. That is great; it's saving the lives of 2 million people. But it's not enough. The United States, as a member, has a responsibility also. READ MORE of "Seven Questions: Luis Moreno-Ocampo".
International Criminal Court (ICC)
 The International Criminal Court (ICC) headquarters building is located in The Hague, Netherlands. The ICC was created in 2002 to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity. |
President Omar al-Bashir
 Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir came to power in 1989 through a military coup of the government. The International Criminal Court will issue a warrant for President Bashir for war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. |
Public Opinion Snapshot: The Public Calls for a New International Order
by Ruy Teixeira at the Center for American Progress
With the presidential debate on foreign policy coming up, it’s worth stressing that the public is looking not just for a new domestic approach; it’s looking for a new strategy for America’s role in the world. Some recent data from a survey by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs make this very clear indeed.
When asked about the importance of various foreign policy goals, the top priority in the public’s eyes is improving America’s standing in the world, followed by protecting the jobs of American workers.
Americans also want to see the United States participate in several treaties and agreements that would signal a change in the United States’ role in the world community. By 88-11, the public would like to see the United States enter into a treaty that would prohibit nuclear weapons and explosions; by 76-23, they are supportive of a new international treaty to address climate change; and by 68-30, they want the United States to enter into an agreement to try individuals for war crimes in the International Criminal Court who won’t be tried by their own country.
SEE more data and analysis from the Center for American Progress.
