Madam President,
I welcome and thank Prosecutor Karim Khan for today’s briefing and for his thirty-fourth report.
As a Party to the Rome Statute, Albania supports the Prosecutor and the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC). In our view it plays a crucial role towards ending impunity and bringing justice to the victims of the heinous crimes against humanity, including for women and children, everywhere where it operates, including in Darfur.
Beyond being a cornerstone principle in international law, accountability is a powerful deterrent against current and future abuses. It helps those who have suffered to heal their wounds, understand that their suffering will not be ignored, forgotten, or left unnoticed and unaddressed. But it also reminds the perpetrators that sooner or later, justice will knock on their door!
Without accountability, human rights will be denied, crimes will perpetuate, and impunity for past conflict-related crimes will persist, undermining legitimacy and prospects for peace and reconciliation.
Lack of accountability equals to a license to kill!
Albania remains very concerned by the precarious security situation prevailing in Sudan and the ongoing violations of human rights by the military authorities. We expect the security services, military and other armed groups to refrain from using further violence against peaceful protestors and civilians across the country, especially in Darfur. The killing of civilians, sexual violence and the injuries of hundreds more by the security services and other armed groups since the October 25 military takeover is unacceptable.
Madam President,
Albania welcome the confirmation of charges in the Kushayb case – this is a tangible output from Resolution 1593. We call upon the Sudanese Government, under Resolution 1593, to fully and meaningfully cooperate with the OTP, to grant access in the territory, archives, witnesses, scene crimes and based on the Memorandum of Understanding signed on 12 August 2021, to fully investigate this tragic loss of life and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Madam President,
Albania supports the 2019 Constitutional Declaration and considers it the only roadmap to overcome the nation’s current political crisis.
The legitimate wish of Sudanese to build their future, in freedom and dignity, must go through return to civilian leadership, through determine, honest and inclusive dialogue with representative of the wide political spectrum, the civilian society, including women and youth.
Thank you.
