Will we ever see true accountability for the gross human rights violations in Darfur? I'm starting to feel cautiously optimistic.
Yesterday, the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) reversed a previous decision not to charge Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir with the crime of genocide. Under the earlier ruling, the court had agreed on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, but stated that the prosecutor had not provided enough evidence to prove genocidal intent.
According to Citizens for Global Solutions, yesterday's ruling ordered the ICC judges "to re-examine the case using a more reasonable standard of proof similar to what is required in courts in the United States."
The British Newspaper The Guardian quotes an interesting point made by the Coalition for the ICC, an NGO that supports the court: "The ruling is hugely significant, as it could lead to the inclusion of charges of genocide by ICC judges for a sitting head of state and for the first time in the history of the court."
Regardless of the court's new findings, I'm sure that enforcement of any charges against Bashir will be difficult and complicated. But at least they are trying. And the world is watching.
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