EVENT: Sudan’s entrenched crises and & the role of the Human Rights Council

In the twelve months since the last Human Rights Council session in September 2015, there has been little improvement in the human rights situation in Sudan. Despite the signing of the roadmap between the government of Sudan and opposition groups to resolve the conflict, the crisis in the Two Areas (Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan) continues unabated and civilians are still being killed and injured in unacceptable numbers. In Darfur, the local population still feel the need for the retention of UN forces in the form of UNAMID and allegations of sexual violence and other human rights abuses are rife. Throughout Sudan, basic freedoms, such as expression, association are being curtailed, arbitrary detention is prevalent and the rights of women are continually repressed.

Last year, the Human Rights Council renewed the mandate of the Independent Expert for a period of one year under agenda item 10 (offering technical assistance and capacity building support). Given the grave violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in Sudan, the mandate is not considered appropriate for the current situation.

Through four presentations, the panel will provide a snapshot of the reality on the ground in Sudan and provide recommendations for concrete actions by the international community to try and improve the human rights situation.

Mossaad Ali, African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS)

Montasir Waren, National Human Rights Monitors Organisation (NHRMO)

Amal Habani, Sudanese Human Rights Initiative (SHRI)

Representative from Darfur, tbc

Moderator, Kafia Omar, International Refugee Rights Initiative