In 2005, Human Rights First’s International Justice Program was renamed the Crimes Against Humanity Program to reflect the expansion of its focus from accountability after the fact to intervention to halt ongoing mass atrocities. Much of the program’s work at this time concerned Darfur, Sudan, where a human rights and humanitarian catastrophe had begun in 2003. The Crimes Against Humanity Program advocated for stronger and more coordinated diplomatic responses from the United States and other governments, as well as from the United Nations. At the same time, the Crimes Against Humanity Program helped coordinate the Darfur-focused public advocacy of non-governmental organizations around the world.

The H.O.P.E. (Help Organize a Peace Envoy) for Darfur campaign mobilized thousands of activists in a successful effort to convince the then-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, to appoint a prominent envoy to reenergize the diplomatic process aimed at creating a sustainable peace in Darfur.

The Crimes Against Humanity Program also championed the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to hold accountable those responsible for the atrocities in Darfur. Drawing on our legal analysis, we mustered popular support for the ICC process and helped gather governmental backing to continue to pursue the cases despite a contentious political environment.

While much of the Crimes Against Humanity Program’s work at this time centered on Sudan, we also advocated for stronger and more effective United States and United Nations policies toward Burma, Zimbabwe, and other places where mass crimes against civilians took place. Close Pane»

HRF Statement on Naming of Suspected War Criminal as Chair of Sudanese Human Rights Investigative Committee (9/6/2007)

Final Safety Oversight Audit Report of the USOAP on the Civil Aviation System of Sudan (pdf) (11/30/2006)

What The World is Saying About Darfur — Almost Nothing (9/27/2006)

SUDO: A Way Forward Towards Peace (pdf) (7/18/2006)

Human Rights First Condemns Forced Closure of Human Rights Organization in West Darfur (3/16/2006)

A.U. Avoids Embarrassment of Sudan as Organization’s Head in 2006, but Doubts About A.U.’s Capacity to Resolve Darfur Crisis Increase (1/24/2006)

New Law Threatens Aid Organizations in Sudan (10/19/2005)

UNSC Letter, with signatures (pdf) (9/24/2004)

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Joint Report: UNAMID Deployment on the Brink (Dec-07)

Letter to the General Assembly 2007 (pdf) (9/24/2007)

United Nations Establishes Mission to Protect Civilians in Darfur but More is Needed in the Immediate Term (8/2/2007) >

Letter urging support for UNAMID (pdf) (7/12/2007)

Letter to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice 2007 (pdf) (6/22/2007)

Letter to Ambassador Jan Eliasson (pdf) (6/4/2007)

Letter to President Bush 2007 (pdf) (5/31/2007)

U.N. Human Rights Council Closes its Eyes to Sudanese Government’s Role in Darfur Violations (3/30/2007)

HRF Condemns Sudan Government’s Latest Actions: Urges U.N. to Appoint a Special Envoy (10/24/2006)

Human Rights First Welcomes President Bush’s Focus on Darfur (9/19/2006)

Worldwide Mobilization Calls for End to Mass Slaughter in Darfur (9/14/2006)

Statement from Eighteen International organizations condemning violence perpetrated by the Government of Sudan (9/13/2006)

Dear Ambassador form letter (pdf) (9/11/2006)

International Efforts Failing to Protect Civilians in Darfur: Security Council Resolution Gives Khartoum Veto Power (8/31/2006)

Momentum Grows for the Global Day for Darfur: Events Planned in 18 Countries to Date (8/29/2006)

Global Day of Action for Darfur: September 17 (8/18/2006)

Darfur: Former Political Prisoner Outlines Road Map For Peace (7/27/2006)

Letter urging support for Responsibility to Protect (pdf) (6/19/2007)

Darfur Promises Not Kept: Peace Agreement Deadlines Pass and New Ones Approach: Ceasefire and Other Commitments Remain Unrealized (6/16/2006)

Human Rights First Calls On Secretary-General Annan to Adopt Comprehensive Approach (6/2/2006)

Letter to Secretary-General Kofi Annan, 2006 (pdf) (5/26/2006)

Making the Case for an Envoy (redirects to /wp-content/uploads/pdf/06112-ij-hope-for-darfur.pdf) (3/8/2006)

“63 Organizations Call on Congress to Support Peacekeeping and Humanitarian
Assistance in Darfur (pdf)” (2/22/2006)

Calling for UN peace envoy to darfur (2/13/2006)

Human Rights First Calls On President Bush and Secretary General Annan To Use Upcoming Meeting To Develop Initiatives To End Darfur Conflict (2/10/2006)

Letter to Secretary-General Kofi Annan, 2006, calling for an Envoy (pdf) (2/9/2006)

Letter to President Bush 2006, calling for Envoy (pdf) (2/9/2006)

“Human Rights First Calls for High-Level Envoy for Peace in Darfur” (1/12/2006)

What’s to Be Done About Darfur? Plenty (11/29/2005)

Human Rights First Calls for High-Level Envoy for Peace in Darfur (11/23/2005)

Letter to Secretary-General Kofi Annan, 2005 (pdf) (11/23/2005)

Letter to President Bush 2005 (pdf) (11/10/2005)

UN General Assembly Agenda & Outcomes, 2005 (pdf) (9/15/2005)

Letter to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice 2005 (pdf) (8/18/2005)

Human Rights First Welcomes Abuja Agreement – Calls on the International Community to Redouble Its Leadership So Peace Will Last (5/5/2005)

May 8th Rally to Stop Genocide in Darfur (5/5/2005)

“U.N. Commission on Human Rights Fails to Take Strong Stand on Darfur Crimes” (4/21/2005)

UNSC Letter, from Michael Posner (pdf) (11/17/2004)

Letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell (7/2/2004)

Letter to Secretary-General Kofi Annan, 2004 (pdf) (7/2/2004)

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The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber’s Decision: Why Was Genocide Not Included? (3/4/2009)

Letter to Ambassador Wang Guangya about Resolution 1593 (pdf) (12/7/2007)

China Shield’s Sudan in the Security Council After ICC Prosecutor’s Report

Letter to Permanent Representative of the PRC to the UN, Mr. Wang Guangya, from Betsy Apple, Director of HRF’s Crimes Against Humanity (12/7/2007)

(12/7/2007)

ICC Prosecutor Reports on Sudan’s Obstructionism (12/6/2007)

HRF Welcomes House Passage of Genocide Accountability Act (12/6/2007)

General Letter about Security Council Resolution 1593 (pdf) (11/30/2007)

Letter to Ambassador Ambassador Khalilzad (pdf) (11/30/2007)

Letter to Ambassador Wang Guangya (pdf) (11/30/2007)

General Letter about the ASP and ICC (pdf) (11/30/2007)

HRF Urges Prosecutor to Pursue Evidence ‘Up the Chain of Command’ in Darfur Case (2/27/2007)

Letter to President Bush 2006 (pdf) (6/5/2006)

Human Rights First Calls on Secretary Rice to Demand Sudanese Cooperation with the International Criminal Court (7/19/2005)

Letter to House of Representatives (pdf) (7/8/2005)

ICC Prosecutor Opens Darfur Investigation: Full Cooperation Is Needed (6/7/2005)

Human Rights First Calls on African Leaders at Darfur Mini-Summit to Promote Sudanese Cooperation with the International Criminal Court (5/13/2005)

Letter to Ambassador Ahmad Aboul Gheit (pdf) (5/4/2005)

Letter to Ambassador Jean Ping (pdf) (5/4/2005)

Letter to Ambassador Nagoum Yamassoum (pdf) (5/4/2005)

Letter to Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji (pdf) (5/4/2005)

Letter to Ahmad Aboul Gheit (pdf) (4/28/2005)

U.N. Takes First Steps to End Human Rights Crisis in Darfur, but Immediate Action is Required: U.S. Deserves Credit for Leadership Role on Darfur (4/1/2005)

U.S. Should Not Stand in the Way of Justice in Darfur (3/29/2005)

U.N. Secretary General Should Push for Action on Darfur at Arab League Summit (3/22/2005)

Letters to Secretaries Brownback and Corzine (pdf) (3/10/2005)

“Peace Requires Justice: U.N. Should Immediately Refer Darfur to the ICC” (2/23/2005)

“Peace Requires Justice: U.N. Should Immediately Refer Darfur to the ICC” (2/23/2005)

Letter to Commission for Inquiry (pdf) (1/19/2005)

Newly Established U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Genocide in Darfur Needs Full Cooperation and Support (10/8/2004)

U.N. Security Council Action Needed to End Impunity in Darfur (8/26/2004)

Security Council Should Order Urgent Inquiry Into Threat of Genocide in Darfur (6/11/2004)

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