Darfur Legal Training Project

ABA Section of Litigation to Provide Advocacy Training to Sudanese Lawyers

Project supports role of the International Criminal Court in prosecuting those responsible for human rights abuses and crimes against humanity

CHICAGO, May 16, 2007 – The American Bar Association Section of Litigation today announced that it will provide advocacy skills training to Sudanese lawyers to help them represent victims of the genocide in Darfur before international tribunals, including the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The thirteen Sudanese lawyers who will participate in the program now provide legal representation to those detained, tortured and subjected to abuses in the Sudan. The training sessions will be held in London from June 3-9 at the Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel.

The training is timely, coming in the weeks after the judges at the ICC issued arrest warrants for two officials of the Sudanese government for their alleged involvement in the grave atrocities that have occurred in Darfur. The warrants come after a 20-month investigation by the prosecutor’s office and the compilation of evidence supporting the charges that they are responsible for murder, rape, torture, the forced displacement of entire villages, and other war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

The idea for the project arose after the Section of Litigation presented its International Human Rights Award last summer to Salih Mahmoud Osman, a Sudanese lawyer, human rights advocate, and legislator, in recognition of his work on behalf of victims of human rights violations and genocide in Darfur. Osman also serves as an officer in the Sudanese Organisation Against Torture. In response to the section’s offer to provide assistance, he indicated the need for training of Sudanese lawyers to support the victims cases.

The program supports the ABA’s goal of advancing the rule of law around the world. The ABA has adopted numerous policies directed to Congress, as well as the executive and judicial branches, supporting and strengthening the International Criminal Court and has advocated U.S. accession to the Rome Statute of 1998. The ABA has consistently supported U.S. participation in international regulatory bodies relevant to the promotion of the rule of law. In 2006 the ABA adopted policy calling on U.S. Government to take all necessary and proper actions to end the ongoing atrocities in Darfur and to provide humanitarian aid to the refugees and implement the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2006.

The curriculum will include: ICC structure and practice at the ICC; international legal terms; exploration of relationships between Sudanese courts and the government; jurisdiction and international criminal law; civil law and common law; investigatory and advocacy skills; interviewing skills; effective oral and written advocacy; and cross examination skills.

In announcing the legal training project, Section Chair Kim J. Askew, Dallas, said, “The American Bar Association Section of Litigation strongly believes that we should undertake this project to contribute to the effort to bring peace to this battered nation. We are grateful to the fine American lawyers who have contributed their time to this cause.”

“Our goal is help the Sudanese lawyers prepare to effectively bring claims on behalf of their citizens who have endured years of turmoil and crisis. We want to help these lawyers tell the story of Darfur and have the world listen. We want to help build a case to bring the perpetrators to justice and assure the rule of law governs,” added Brad D. Brian, Los Angeles, project chair and immediate past chair of the section.

Participating faculty members have extensive experience and skill in criminal prosecution, human rights, and have worked in international tribunals. They include academics, officials who have worked in past crises, individuals who have exceptional understanding of complex international legal relationships and procedures as well as demonstrated trial and advocacy skills. Many have experience dealing with legal issues in past crises including Rwanda, East Timor and Kosovo. Joining them will be officials of the ICC.

Joining Brian on the faculty are: Terree Bowers, Los Angeles; Leslie Caldwell, New York; Genevieve Cox, San Francisco; Judge Bernice Donald of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee; Jeff Eglash, senior counsel for Investigations and Compliance, General Electric Company; Prof. JoAnne Epps, Temple University Beasley School of Law, Philadelphia; Jean Flamme, counsel for the defence in the case of The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo; Markus Funk, assistant U.S. attorney in Chicago; Paolina Massidda, Office of Public Counsel for Victims, International Criminal Court; Fiona McKay, chief of the Victims Participation and Reparations Section, ICC; Laurie Miller, Washington, D.C.; Jerry Roth, San Francisco; Pierre-Richard St. Hilaire, U.S. Department of Justice, National Security Division, Counterterrorism Section; David Stoelting, New York, a Vice President of the International Criminal Bar; and Brenda Sue Thornton, U.S. Department of Justice.