Only in the first half of 2018, 23 lawyers have been victim of arbitrary detention in Sudan, either for their participation in peaceful protests or for the legal support they provided to other human rights defenders victim of arbitrary arrest and detention. The joint Observatory and ACJPS report published today shows how the absolute powers and immunity enjoyed by the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) allow them to arbitrarily arrest human rights lawyers, seize their passports and carry out office raids to intimidate them and their clients. In the absence of effective legal remedies and judicial scrutiny, all violations against human rights lawyers remain unpunished.
“The Sudanese authorities must immediately lift the immunity of the NISS and ensure full accountability for all human rights violations committed against human rights lawyers in the country” said Mossaad Mohammed Ali, ACJPS Executive Director. “Only through an effective fight against the widespread impunity in Sudan can we ensure that the rights of human rights lawyers, and those of the HRDs assisted by them, are fully respected” added Gerald Staberock, OMCT Secretary General.
Human rights lawyers are particularly targeted as they take up the defence of victims of government repression against the protests that spread in the country in the aftermath of the 2011 Arab revolutions, and to denounce the austerity measures regularly adopted by the government over the past seven years. By targeting human rights lawyers, the Sudanese authorities indirectly deprive all HRDs subject to extrajudicial killings, judicial harassment and arbitrary detention of their right to legal assistance.
“As watchdogs of the rights of other human rights defenders in Sudan, human rights lawyers need to be able to operate in an enabling environment free from threats against them and their clients. Without this basic guarantee, violations of lawyers’ rights will continue to impact the whole human rights community in Sudan” added Sheila Muwanga Nabachwa, FIDH Vice President.
Intimidation and repression against human rights defenders in Sudan intensified in the past months in reaction to nation-wide demonstrations that began on January 6, 2018, set off by the announcement of the 2018 national budget forecast and the lifting of subsidies. Sudanese authorities have carried out a campaign of massive arrests and detentions, including against human rights defenders, political party leaders, journalists, students and other individuals for their involvement in the protests(1). The police and the NISS have used excessive force to disperse and arrest protesters, including tear gas and beatings with sticks and water hose pipes(2).
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and FIDH. The objective of this programme is to intervene to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. OMCT and FIDH are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society.
For more information, please contact:
OMCT: Marta Gionco: +41 228 09 49 39; mgi@omct.org
FIDH: Audrey Couprie / Samuel Hanryon: +33 1 43 55 25 18 – presse@fidh.org
ACJPS: Mossaad M. Ali +256779584542 - mossaad.ali@acjps.org