In a historic step toward justice, the United Nations Security Council
passed a late-night resolution referring Darfur to the
International Criminal Court (ICC) on March 31, 2005. Human Rights
Watch played a crucial role in building support for the referral,
from our initial research on the ground, early calls for
accountability, and extensive advocacy with the press and
diplomats worldwide. This month's referral of Darfur to the ICC by
the U.N. Security Council is, we must hope, the beginning of the
end of Darfur's awful nightmare and a belated start to ensuring
justice and accountability for the crimes committed against the
people of Darfur. Human Rights Watch now looks to the ICC
prosecutor to respond swiftly and assume the responsibilities
entrusted to him.