Source: Amnesty International –
The closure of the Special Criminal Court (SCC) in the Central African Republic would be a catastrophic blow to thousands of victims’ and survivors’ prospects of securing justice for serious crimes committed over two decades of conflict, Amnesty International said amid serious concerns over the Court’s future due to a major lack of funding.
“We call on the African Union, the European Union and their respective member states, as well as all other State partners to step up with sustained financial and human resources support so the SCC can continue its vital work in the Central African Republic,” said Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa.
The SCC, inaugurated on 22 October 2018, has a mandate to investigate and prosecute crimes under international law committed during conflicts in the Central African Republic (CAR) since 2003. During this period, CAR suffered waves of violence and armed conflicts. Thousands of civilians were killed, raped, abducted, mutilated, wounded, displaced or had their homes burned.
Ending the SCC’s funding would hand impunity a victory.
Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa