CSW opening remarks at HRC53 side event on Sudan

Many of you who have followed Sudan for many years recognise the need for it to remain on this Council’s agenda after the formation of the transitional government. The current situation has emerged from a context. Sudan was one of the countries on the HRCs agenda for the longest period of time. In the latter years the desire to ‘reward’ the limited positive steps in the country have ultimately worked to undermine the true desire for democracy, freedom and change in Sudan. In 2021 weeks after Sudan came off the Councils agenda a coup took place arresting even the political leaders who did not see the importance of Sudan remanning on the Councils agenda. Burhan and Himidti maintained their positions and the pattern of violations More than a hundred civilians were killed, women and men were raped, and hundreds forcibly disappeared, in addition to killings all over the country, especially in Darfur. All of this with some steps taken by the international community but to many living with the reality of the coup felt that the action was not enough.

The same violations committed in the immediate aftermath of the coup and even early transition period are happening now with the same perpetrators. It’s important to understand that this war is actually against civilians and our dream to achieve a full civilian government, a legitimate and even a humble dream after our sacrifices. Civilians are between the hammer of SAF, who uses air and artillery strikes and the anvil of RSF, who occupied our houses, looting and destroying them and committing crimes that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, including rape and sexual slavery.

At least 88 cases of sexual violence have been documented- but the actual number is undeniably higher as the number of women and girls disappeared is increasing. Last Sunday, RSF officers kidnapped two girls from Al-Halfaya, North Khartoum, the resistance committee and whole community went out to confront the RSF and the girls were returned. However, this is not common. It is noteworthy that after the war started more than 400 people have been disappeared, some were found dead, and some who returned had horrific injuries and told of horrifying stories of detention centres; especially in RSF centres where women were raped and forced to sever.

The threat towards human rights defenders worsens the situation, as those in need have no one to stand with them. HRDs face danger from the RSF militia, SAF and the previous regime, whose members spread hate speech and incitement against them. Many HRDs based in the capital have had to flee Khartoum, living is measurable situation and of course leaving a massive gap in mentoring and documenting human rights violations.

Last month, 4 human rights defenders, including lawyers who represented the families and victims of mass killings in West Darfur since 2019 were assassinated after being threatened by the RSF. Similarly offices belonging to the lawyers who represented the families and victims of Al-Obaid massacre last year were burned down. There has been a rising trend of offices of human rights lawyers in Khartoum being attacked and destroyed. With that evidence, case files and documentary history of multiple cases have been kept.

While these violations have been perpetrated by the RSF the army also continues to commit violations. resistance committees’ members who volunteer to support the victims or stand against the war are frequently arrested some only released after over a month in detention. Last Sunday, Khalid Alyass, from Sinar state’s resistance committee, was arrested after a peaceful demonstration against the war.

Refugees are the most vulnerable and neglected group in this war and are facing grave violations. There are more than one million refugees and asylum seekers in Sudan 94% of them are women and children who in severe humanitarian need. The government authority in Gezira state forcibly deported those who fled from Tigray region to Al-Gadarif state on the Ethiopian border. Some of them were afraid this was a step to deport them back to Ethiopia, so they fled and there have been little to no reports about their whereabouts or wellbeing. According to trusted sources, RSF in Khartoum abducted Ethiopian and Eritrean women and girls to serve their troops and be raped at will; also at least 12 Ethiopian and Eritrean refugees were reportedly raped by RSF fighters at the beginning of the war. At least 10 refugees from Congo were killed by air strike on their campus in Khartoum, but no one knows the total numbers of refugees who were killed so far.

As can be seen, these crimes are not committed by some bad apples, but they are systematic, widespread and with knowledge of those in command. It is imperative take a robust approach especially to investigate and document these violations and hold all perpetrators to account. The immediate humanitarian needs are undeniable, but both accountability and holding those responsive for these grave crimes and supporting the immediate needs of civilians should be done concurrently.