HRC50: Oral statement during Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Sudan

Item 2:Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioners oral update on the situation of human rights in the Sudan since the military takeover

Organisation:Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Speaker: Claire Denman

Thank you, Mr President,

CSW welcomes the work of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and of the Designated Expert.

We lament the deteriorating human rights situation, and the sad milestone of over 100 protestors killed since 25 October 2021. We remain gravely concerned by continuing use of force against unarmed civilians despite the lifting of the state of emergency.

We further lament the systematic erosions of the rule of law impacting all societal sectors, including the detention of protestors and opposition politicians, and an increase in violations of the freedoms of religion or belief (FoRB), expression, association and assembly.

CSW is also concerned by rising arrests of religious leaders, and state interference in the affairs of religious groups.

For example, in April, a church leader was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment after extremists attacked him during a prayer service. Witnesses testified to the attack, and the perpetrator also confessed to his action; nevertheless, both the victim and perpetrator were found guilty of disturbing the peace and held in the same prison. In Omdurman, Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church properties received an unlawful demolition order.

Additionally, CSW remains alarmed at deteriorating security in Abyei, South Kordofan and Darfur. The rise in conflict and displacements presage increasing humanitarian needs that will require urgent attention.

The decline in personal safety is also seen in other parts of the country with the increase in robberies, especially during demonstrations where the security agents reportedly would take valuables from detained protestors. A decline in, and threat to, personal safety are also linked to the worsening economic situation, the coup’s impact, and the derailed political transition.

CSW urges the Council to closely monitor the grave situation in Sudan through regular interactive dialogues with the Designated Expert, and to fully support the mandate.