Nobel Women's Initiative

African civil society leaders, Nobel Laureates, and justice experts from across the continent united ahead of the African Union summit to call for action on the crisis in Sudan. In particular, the leaders supported the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC), and called for humanitarian access.

An open statement, signed by Nobel Laureates Wangari Maathai (Peace, 2004), Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Peace, 1984), and Wole Soyinka (Literature, 1986), as well as 39 other prominent African experts, emphasized that the ICC plays a critical role in achieving the objectives of “justice and accountability for the peoples of Sudan.”

The people of Darfur deserve more than negotiating warlords forgiving
each other for the violence – including brutal sexual violence – they have
perpetrated primarily against women, children and other non-combatants.

The signatories to the statement called for accountability and urged African political leaders to dramatically step up efforts to negotiate an end to the violence in Darfur, and ensure that all parties to the conflict, including the government, armed groups, and especially women who have been building the path to peace, are at the peace table.

The statement came on the heels of an Opinion Editorial piece penned by Maathai, Soyinka, and Archbishop Tutu, which was published in Jeune Afrique and other African media.

View the statement.

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African Civic Leaders Urge African Union Leaders to Support ICC Process in Sudan, East African Tribune, 26 June 2009

Laissez la CPI travailler! Jeune Afrique, 11 June 2009