HRC41: Oral Statement during enhanced ID on Sudan

Agenda Item 10:Enhanced ID on Sudan

Organisation: Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Speaker: Claire Denman

Thank you Mr President,

CSW wishes to thank the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for its update.

There have been significant developments in Sudan, where unarmed and peaceful protestors nationwide have been targeted since December 2018.

Since the Transitional Military Council took charge of the country, following the arrest of the former President Omar al Bashir on 11 April, the human rights situation has continued to deteriorate.

The violent dispersal of protestors of the sit-in site in Khartoum on 3 June resulted in at least 128 deaths and over 70 verified reports of sexual assault. Attacks on civilians outside the capital, particularly in Darfur, have also been reported since April 2019. An ongoing internet shutdown not only violates freedom of expression; it also prevents the full extent of the violence against civilians from being fully exposed.

The presence of Rapid Support Forces in cities and towns has further restricted the freedom of movement of civilians. Reports of torture and inhuman and degrading treatment of civilians by the RSF include shaving the heads of young people and forcing protestors, some of whom were observing Ramadan, to drink polluted water on 3 June, amounting to a violation of freedom of religion or belief.

These grave and sustained violations warrant a robust response, and the current inaction by the HRC is unacceptable. We call on this Council to establish an independent international fact-finding mission to investigate violations that occurred across Sudan for the, duration of the protests, and to complement the work of the national investigation agreed by the Forces for Freedom and Change and the TMC.

In addition, the mandate of the Independent Expert must be renewed at the 42^nd HRC session and transferred to agenda item 4, with the full mandate to investigate and report on violations. It is vital, given the challenges faced by the OHCHR in establishing a fully functioning office, that there is no protection gap.

The mechanisms available to this Council and the OHCHR do not replace the obligations of the State to respect and fulfil fundamental rights. We urge State actors to ensure the rights of all are protected in any justice and accountability mechanisms, especially women, youth, religious and ethnic groups, who have historically been marginalised.

Thank you