Sudan: UN Human Rights Council should adopt a stronger resolution to prevent further human rights violations

25/09/2012
Press release

The UN Human Rights Council (the Council) should not take a soft approach to the deteriorating situation in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur when it adopts a resolution on Sudan at the end of its 21st session this week. The Council should act in accordance with its mandate to address ongoing widespread and serious violations of human rights and prevent any further deterioration of the situation in the conflict areas.

« The Council should not turn a blind eye to the potential for further abuses, in particular in South Kordofan, Blue Nile. The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) and FIDH call on the Council to keep a close watch on the human rights situation in Sudan» said ACJPS Director Osman Hummaida.

FIDH and ACJPS are concerned that the report of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan that will be presented tomorrow does not reflect adequately the dire situation on the ground. Our organisations have documented a signficiant deterioration in the human rights and humanitarian situation in the past few months. Throughout Sudan, youth protests have been repressed through the excessive use of force and widespread arbitrary arrests, detention and torture. In Darfur, the humanitarian situation has deteriorated, with an increased number of internally displaced persons. Civilians have paid a heavy price in the conflicts in Southern Kordofan, Blue Nile. Indiscriminate bombing of civilians, arbitrary detentions and sexual violence against women continue in a climate of total impunity.

In the past year the Government of Sudan denied the Independent Expert full access to the territory of Sudan and did not permit him to monitor the human rights situation on the ground. In adopting a resolution this week, the Council should reinforce his mandate. The resolution should in particular urge the Government of Sudan to grant a full and unimpeded access to its territory, and request the Indepedent Expert to report back to the Council on the situation of human rights in the whole Sudan, including the serious abuses committed in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan, as well as in the North.

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