Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid Bin Ra'ad, welcomed the historic verdict of the special court in Senegal convicting the former President of Chad Hissene Habre of crimes against humanity, summary executions, torture and rape.

Prince Zeid said in a statement late Monday "after years of struggle and many setbacks on the way to justice, this verdict is as historic as it was hard-won. I sincerely hope that today, at last, Habre's victims will experience some sense of relief." He added that "in a world scarred by a constant stream of atrocities, the ramifications of this verdict are global. Indeed, while the verdict may be appealed, it sends a clear message to those responsible for serious human rights violations around the world that no one is above the law and that, one day, they may also face justice for their crimes." The UN high commissioner also hailed the ground-breaking agreement between Senegal and the African Union which enabled this case to proceed, saying that this was an excellent example of regional leadership and ownership in the fight against impunity for international crimes.

"My Office, which has actively supported accountability efforts in Senegal and Chad over the past few years, and has followed the Habre trial, will continue to offer its support to the quest for justice by victims of human rights violations all over the world," he stressed.