Salih Mahmoud Osman, a Member of Parliament in Sudan and a Human Rights Activist, states that his work in Darfur has exposed him to the gravest violations of human rights and humanitarian law. These violations have existed in Darfur even prior to the current eruption. The current suffering of the Darfur people is great. More than four million people have been displaced, of which three million are living in camps and cannot return to their homes. Despite the destruction of two thousand villages and the continued killing and sexual abuses, none of the perpetrators have been brought to justice. Although the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese minister and a militia leader, they remain beyond reach of justice.

Why is the situation in Darfur happening after the Rwanda genocide? It is largely caused by government incitement of racial hatred, denying peoples identity. Any challenge to the government incitement was met by strong retaliation.

Osman believes that the only hope for the Darfurian people is that the killing will stop through the arrest of those responsible. Although some people say that the call for justice interferes with the possibility of gaining peace in the region, Osman believes that only justice can help. Since the local Sudanese judicial system is unwilling and incapable of achieving justice, the International Criminal Court has the responsibility to put an end to the impunity of perpetrators. Deferral of justice is insulting the work of the ICC, allowing for more suffering. Immediate decisive acts must be taken to stop the situation in Darfur.

Biography of Salih Mahmoud Osman

Mr. Osman, a Sudanese human rights lawyer, has been internationally recognized for his work on human rights issues in his country. He has provided free legal presentation to victims of ethnic violence in Sudan and currently serves in the Sudan National Assembly working to promote legal reform in the country. In 2005, Osman was awarded Human Rights Watch's highest honor and in 2006 was given the International Human Rights Award by the American Bar Association.

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