HRC54: Statement during oral update with the High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in Sudan

Item 2:Interactive Dialogue with the High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in Sudan

Organisation:Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Speaker:Claire Denman

Thank you, Mr President.

CSW thanks the High Commissioner for his update.

We regret that the human rights situation in Sudan continues to deteriorate. A prominent Sudanese human rights lawyer has described civilians as being “between the hammer of SAF and the anvil of RSF.”

The RSF controls most of Khartoum, while the SAF almost controls northern Khartoum. Airstrikes continue, including on Sunday 10 September, when at least 40 civilians in southern Khartoum were killed and dozens injured in an SAF attack. Other violations, including the RSF occupation of houses and public buildings also continue in the capital.

Airstrikes are also occurring in other parts of the country, including in Omdurman, where on 3 September, 26 civilians were killed.

An attack by the RSF on the Independent Baptist Church in Omdurman is also deeply concerning. During the attack on 5 September, the church was robbed.

While cases of sexual violence continue to be documented, the actual number is far higher, as the number of disappeared women and girls is increasing.

Atrocities in West Darfur also continue. Reports of mass graves, summary executions, attacks on civilian infrastructure and burned villages continue to emerge as the campaign of violence and ethnic cleansing rages on.

We continue to call on this Council to establish without delay an independent investigative mechanism mandated to investigate human rights abuses in Sudan, to collect and preserve evidence, and identify those responsible for violations.

As the humanitarian situation deteriorates further, providing the immediate needs of civilians alongside accountability mechanisms is also imperative.

Thank you.