Security Council and Referral of the Situation in Darfur (Sudan) to the International Criminal Court

Security council on 31 March 2005, acting under chapter VII of the UN Charter, adopted Resolution 1593 referring the Darfur situation to the International Criminal Court. It is for the first time that the security council referred a situation to ICC. The International Commission of Inquiry on violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law in Darfur confirmed that mass violations of human rights and international humanitarian law have taken place in Darfur. It recommended, given the circumstances the referral of situation to ICC which is the sole body with jurisdiction which can impartially, effectively and rapidly bring to trial those who bear major responsibility for those crimes.