The proverb “The wheels of justice turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine” is a paraphrase of an ancient Greek saying that addresses the slow nature of justice
While the proverb may offer some reassurance, in our current world, the slow pace of judicial proceedings is considered one of the most significant challenges facing the justice system. This issue demands serious attention, as delayed justice often leads to a form of procedural injustice.
Moreover, prolonged court proceedings can result in the loss of rights and diminish the impact of penalties. The recent announcement by the United States, finally declaring the actions of the Janjaweed militias in Darfur as ethnic cleansing, highlights this problem. Such crimes against humanity should have no place in our world today. It is disheartening that it took the United States this long to awaken its humanitarian conscience, though it still fares better than other nations that have remained silent since the Darfur massacres began in 2004.
At that time, many proclaimed “not on my watch,” but unfortunately, activists and self-proclaimed “Darfur experts” emerged, rejecting the idea of decisive accountability under the slogan “Peace before justice.” This group slowed the course of justice and made opposing the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor their primary cause. Consequently, they emboldened Darfur’s criminals to commit hundreds of atrocities against their beleaguered people and even export their crimes to other parts of Sudan.
I can unequivocally state that this group of so-called Darfur experts directly contributed to impunity and became practical accomplices in all subsequent crimes, regardless of their current claims to the contrary.
ven if we say “Let’s leave the past in the past” and seek to seize this opportunity provided by the American administration to achieve justice, we find ourselves today facing a real need to revive global popular solidarity with international justice. The criminal is no longer just a small group of outlaws against humanitarian laws, but rather mercenary institutions with international dimensions, armament systems, and funding networks that require international intervention from the Security Council, which itself suffers from fragmentation.
This situation highlights the evolving nature of international crimes and the challenges faced by global justice mechanisms. The complexity of modern conflicts, involving mercenary groups and intricate networks of support, demands a more robust and unified international response. However, the fragmentation within the Security Council itself poses a significant obstacle to effective action, underscoring the need for reform and renewed commitment to international justice principles.
