スーダンに関する国際刑事裁判所（ICC）検察官報告書に関するブリーフィングにおける志野大使ステートメント

 
Thank you, Madam President.
 
Let me begin by thanking Prosecutor Khan for presenting the 38th report on the situation in Darfur and sharing with us what you have seen and experienced directly on the ground, not only in Darfur but also affected areas including Chad.
 
Madam President, 

As we face increasing hostilities and humanitarian crises in various parts of the world, the role of the International Criminal Court has never been so critical. Ensuring the rule of law is an essential condition to protect human dignity, which shall be equally respected as prosecutor said, “everywhere and for everyone”. To this end, Japan reaffirms its unwavering support to the ICC and the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP). We are committed to the fight against impunity for the most serious crimes under international law.
 
Japan is seriously concerned about the reported catastrophic scale of the current conflict and dire humanitarian repercussions in Sudan. Reports of ethnically motivated attacks, sexual and gender-based violence as well as massive displacement of people are alarming. Japan strongly calls on all the parties in Sudan to immediately stop the violence, uphold international humanitarian law to ensure the safety of civilians, and respect the process of justice and the rule of law. Without justice, a lasting peace in the region will not be achieved. In this context, we welcome the OTP’s investigation efforts into the current hostilities, in line with the Security Council’s request in resolution 1593.        
 
Regarding the activities of the Court during the reporting period, we are concerned that the escalation of violence in Sudan has been hindering the Prosecutor’s activities. Cooperation from the Government of Sudan is crucial in this process. It is concerning, in particular, that some suspects under ICC arrest warrants continue to remain fugitives from justice. We call on the Government of Sudan to fully cooperate with the ICC in accordance with resolution 1593 by issuing necessary documents and responding to ICC inquiries appropriately.
 
Facing these challenges, the ICC’s consistent efforts to make progress in the trial of Mr. Ali Muhammad Abd-Al-Rahman are worth noting. There must be no impunity for those responsible for atrocities. The violence in Sudan in the early 2000s should never be forgotten, as accountability for past atrocities is central to preventing further international crimes and to establishing durable peace in Sudan. It is also encouraging to learn that the OTP has engaged with civil society in the neighboring region, in particular Chad, and has continued to collect the necessary evidence to achieve justice.     
 
Japan maintains its support to the Court’s activities mandated by the Security Council. The recent visit by Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA to the ICC this month demonstrates our trust in and expectation for the Court in its critical role in promoting the rule of law to end impunity and in protecting human dignity. Japan’s consistent financial and human resource contributions demonstrate our strong commitment to ensuring that the ICC will achieve its mandate based on the resolution 1593.
 
I thank you, Madam President.