African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies ACJPS | المركز الافريقي لدراسات العدالة و السلام
Since late 2016 and throughout 2017, the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) has documented continued abuses against civilians, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur.
Arbitrary detentions and judicial harassment of peaceful protesters and human rights defenders amidst a campaign of civil disobedience together with a crackdown on civil society have also been widely reported.
In a climate impunity, ACJPS is concerned by the repeated incident of excessive use of force targeting students across Sudan.
Additionally, violations of freedom of expression, press and religion are surging in Sudan.
ACJPS is particularly concerned by the quasi-total impunity enjoyed by perpetrators of the violations documented. ACJPS condemns in the strongest terms the grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur, including the continued indiscriminate aerial bombing of civilian populated areas the use of cluster bombs, and other indiscriminate attacks on civilians by Government forces and allied militia, as well as the continued blockade of humanitarian aid, looting, destruction of civilian facilities, killings and sexual violence committed by paramilitary forces and other Sudanese government forces, which has led to forced displacement of civilian populations. Thus, ACJPS urges the Government of Sudan to address the continued impunity of security forces and ensure accountability for the killings of civilians.
ACJPS further condemns the continued restrictions on the media, on human rights defenders and political opponents, freedoms of association and of peaceful assembly, and the use of arbitrary detention and torture, as detailed hereafter as well as the ongoing violations of freedom of religion and repression of individuals based on their faith.
Consequently, ACJPS urgently call for the release of individuals arbitrarily detained by the NISS and urge the Government of Sudan to repeal the repressive National Security Act of 2010, and all other legislation which grants immunities to Government of Sudan agents.
Finally, ACJPS expresses its concerns over detention conditions in Sudan and violations of prisoners’ rights, in particular following the death in custody of Mr. Usama Mohamed Abdulsalam. Consequently, ACJPS calls upon Sudanese authorities to urgently investigate the death of Mr. Abdulsalam and to review conditions in all Port Sudan detention facilities as a matter of urgency.
Read more Report on Human Rights Situation in Sudan December 2016-December 2017
