Amnesty International (AI) has commended the International Criminal Court (ICC) guilty verdict on DR Congo (DRC) rebel leader, Jean-Pierre Bemba, describing it as “a historic step forward for victims of sexual violence’’.

AI Deputy Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Samira Daoud, said this in a statement in New York on Monday.

“Today’s unanimous guilty verdict by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Jean-Pierre Bemba is an historic moment in the battle for justice.
“Also accountability for victims of sexual violence in the Central African Republic and around the world.

“Not only is it the first time that the ICC has convicted someone for rape as a war crime but it is also the first ICC conviction based on command responsibility,’’ the statement said.
According to the statement, the judgment sends a clear message that impunity for sexual violence as a tool of war will not be tolerated.

It noted that the military commanders and political superiors must take all necessary steps to prevent their subordinates from committing such heinous acts and would be held accountable if they fail to do so.

Reports say the ICC Trial Chamber III has unanimously declared Bemba “guilty beyond any reasonable doubt” of two counts of crimes against humanity (murder and rape) and three counts of war crimes (murder, rape, and pillaging).

Bemba was charged with two counts of crimes against humanity (murder and rape) and three counts of war crimes (murder, rape, and pillaging), allegedly committed during the conflict in Central African Republic (CAR) in 2002 to 2003.

(PANA/NAN)