African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies ACJPS | المركز الافريقي لدراسات العدالة و السلام
(24 September 2014) Oral Statement delivered to Human Rights Council during Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Sudan
Human Rights Council – 27th session
Item 10: Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Sudan
Mr. President, Mr. Independent Expert,
FIDH and its member organization, the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) are concerned about the seriously deteriorating human rights situation in Sudan in the past twelve months, and by this Council’s failure to respond effectively to the gravity of the situation.
Over the past year, the government has continued to repress fundamental rights and freedoms throughout the country, including through severe restrictions on freedoms of expression, association and assembly. Despite president Al-Bashir’s promise in April 2014 to release all “political detainees”, Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) continue to target political opponents, human rights defenders, and protesters with prolonged arbitrary detention without charge and allegations of ill-treatment and torture, because of their real or perceived links to rebel groups. Media and civil society organizations continue to be silenced through censorship, harassment and intimidation.
The government has taken no steps to hold to account members of the state security forces responsible for human rights violations, such as the killings of at least 185 protesters during the crackdown on popular protests one year ago. Scores of youth activists and political opposition members have been arrested over the past two days by Security Services in Khartoum in an apparent attempt to pre-empt the organization of any protests or commemoration events concerning these killings. We have confirmed at least 46 arrests since Monday in Khartoum, Omdurman and El Geneina. The National Security Act of 2010, which enables the perpetration of human rights violations with complete impunity, has not been reformed. In Darfur, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states, the government intensified aerial bombardments and ground attacks, using both indiscriminate and targeted attacks on civilians. These attacks have killed and injured scores of civilians, destroyed civilian property including schools and hospitals, led to loss of livelihoods and have witnessed mass forced displacement of civilian populations. Government forces including the Rapid Support Forces and non-state opposition groups continued to carry out gross violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law in the conflict-affected areas.
Mr. Baderin,
We call on the Council to strongly condemn violations and indiscriminate attacks against civilians, and to strengthen the special procedure mandate on Sudan, establishing a Special Rapporteur under agenda item 4 with a mandate to monitor and publicly report on violations of human rights and international humanitarian law across Sudan.
Thank you.
