Justice Delayed Is Not Justice Denied

The Newsweek title is a bit misleading. A better one is,* “if justice is
delayed, it must never be denied” , *quoted from Jolie’s own words …
*Justice Delayed Is Not Justice Denied*
*On Human Rights Day, a renewed argument for action in Darfur. *
By *Angelina Jolie* | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Today we observe Human Rights Day, founded more than half a century ago
when the international community declared that respect for human rights and
dignity “is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world,” and
resolved that the horrors of World War II should never be allowed to recur.
But they did. After Hitler, Stalin, and Franco in Europe, there was Mao and
Pol Pot in Asia, and Mobutu and Taylor in Africa.
Recognizing that a declaration alone could not guarantee these rights, we
created the Nuremberg and Tokyo tribunals, then the ad hoc tribunals for the
former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone, and finally the International
Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. Never again, we declared, would world
leaders commit mass murder with impunity.
And then there is Darfur– where, since 2003, government-supported militia
have left 300,000 dead and 2.7 million people internally displaced. The
situation was so dire that in April 2007, Susan Rice, now the U.S. permanent
representative to the United Nations, wrote, “The U.S. should press for a
Chapter VII U.N. resolution that issues Sudan an ultimatum: accept
unconditional deployment of the U.N. force within one week, or face military
consequences . . . If the U.S. fails to gain U.N. support, we should act
without it as [we] did in 1999 in Kosovo.” The International Criminal Court
then issued arrest warrants for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, the first
for a sitting head of state, and other Sudanese leaders implicated in the
atrocities in Darfur.
Through all of this, we have been waiting and wondering what the outcome
would be to save the people of Sudan and help break the cycle of impunity.
The Obama administration recently unveiled its new policy of engagement with
Sudan, aimed first at securing the full implementation of the treaty that
ended the north-south Sudanese civil war. While the administration
maintained it will not deal with al-Bashir or any other official charged
with arrest, it has not yet announced any serious moves to enforce the
decision of the ICC and execute its warrants.
There will be pressure on the United States and its partners to bring
stability to Sudan, even at the expense of criminal accountability.
Regardless of the rationale, the end would be the same: victims left without
justice while perpetrators walk away.
*Even if justice is delayed, it must never be denied.* The Declaration of
Human Rights did not promise freedom or justice or peace.
Like many Americans, I support the administration’s willingness to engage
diplomatically, even with regimes we abhor. And I believe President Obama
and his special envoy Scott Gration will do their best to bring peace to the
region. Their policy, though, raises a number of questions. How is the Obama
administration’s approach to Sudan an evolution of justice? In addition,
when the administration says it intends to work to “improve the lives of the
people of Darfur,” I would like to know what that means, besides the obvious
point that their lives could hardly get worse.
And what will be the precedent set for future leaders? Will they end up
receiving high-level international attention, and remain free to pocket
financial assistance and aid relief pouring into their country? Is there
incentive for them to act with impunity or will they fear they’ll be held
accountable?
* In Sudan, the administration should explore ways to bring al-Bashir to
justice, even as it encourages stability in Darfur. This means bringing all
permanent members of the U.N. Security Council on board to send the message
that the international community will not tolerate mass atrocities. *
I also hope we will act sooner and more powerfully to prevent future
atrocities. A Council on Foreign Relations report released today (funded by
the Jolie-Pitt Foundation) offers recommendations to improve the U.N.
Security Council’s responsiveness by discouraging vetoes in cases of mass
atrocities, while urging the United States to make clear its willingness to
act on its own if necessary.
*On this Human Rights Day–the same day President Obama receives his Nobel
Peace Prize–we must also remember those who have been deprived of their
rights.* *Holding perpetrators of mass atrocities accountable is the best
way to ensure justice today and peace in the future. Sudan is the place to
start.*
*Actress and activist Angelina Jolie is co-chair of the Jolie-Pitt
Foundation.