Danish government must arrest Sudanese President if he attends climate conference

20 November 2009

Amnesty International has learned that the Danish government has invited Sudanese President Omar al Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, to attend a meeting in Copenhagen on climate change in December.

“Denmark needs to make it clear that it will arrest President al Bashir if he travels to Copenhagen,” said Christopher Keith Hall, Senior Legal Adviser at Amnesty International.

“The International Criminal Court needs the cooperation of its member states. Under the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, Denmark has a duty to arrest and surrender any person within its territory who is subject to an arrest warrant issued by the ICC.”

“Denmark can and must demonstrate its leadership on bringing alleged perpetrators of the worst crimes to justice by acknowledging its duty to arrest,” said Christopher Keith Hall.

Amnesty International received the information during a meeting of member states to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for President al Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur earlier this year.

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