The human rights and humanitarian situation in Sudan is gravely deteriorating, marked by harsh political repression and continued impunity. There is increasing evidence that Sudanese security forces are committing war crimes in the conflict areas of Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, with complete impunity. Sudanese authorities have demonstrated a lack of will and capacity to genuinely investigate and prosecute international crimes by failing to establish accountability mechanisms. Elsewhere in Sudan, the security forces have arrested and arbitrarily detained opposition party members, human rights defenders, students, and political activists in particular in the lead up to, during, and after the national election held in April 2015. The arrests were accompanied by mass media censorship.
It is time for the Human Rights Council to take stronger action by adopting a resolution under its agenda item 4 (which is dedicated to the most serious situations) establishing a Special Rapporteur with a mandate to monitor and publicly report on violations committed in all parts of the country. In light of the structural and generalized impunity in the conflict areas, the Council should also request OHCHR to urgently investigate international crimes and other widespread and serious abuses of human rights in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile, identify those responsible, and provide recommendations for accountability. The resolution should also condemn a range of human rights violations, call for the release of arbitrarily detained individuals, and urge the Government of Sudan to repeal the repressive National Security Act of 2010.
During the 30th session of the HRC, FIDH will engage in advocacy on the need for the Council to step up its response to the situation in Sudan, including by organizing advocacy meetings between Sudanese human rights defenders and diplomatic missions and co-organizing a side event in cooperation with partner organizations.
Our concerns and expectations are detailed in a letter to the Human Rights Council, which FIDH and its member organization the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) co-signed together with a large number of Sudanese and international NGOs.