The development comes after more than three weeks of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) loyal to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Force (RSF) led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
UN rights chief Volker Turk opens the meeting Condemnation “Unwanted violence” that has brought more hunger, deprivation and displacement on the Sudanese people, while both sides “broke international humanitarian law,
From ‘ray of hope’ to humanitarian disaster
Mr Turki reminded the council that Sudan appeared as a “ray of hope” after popular protests with women and youth in 2019 toppled the three-decade-long dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir. He talked about his visit to the country six months ago – his first mission as UN rights chief – when a Transition to civilian rule was on the horizon,
Recalling his meetings at the time with the two rival generals, the UN rights chief said their message was to emphasize accountability and human rights as essential to any future settlement.
“Today, there is a lot of damage, Destroying the hopes and rights of millions of people of the people,” Mr. Turke said.
to date, more than 600 people have died In the fighting, more than 150,000 Sudanese have fled, and over 700,000 have been internally displaced, there are record levels of hunger expected in the country in the coming months.
urgent call for peace
The UN rights chief underscored the dire need for a humanitarian ceasefire and an end to human rights violations.
while it is worth noting “Intensified” diplomatic efforts by actors including the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the League of Arab States and the United NationsThe leaders of the SAF and the RSF have not agreed to discuss the cessation of hostilities, the High Commissioner called on the parties to the truce “Commit immediately to an inclusive political process and for a negotiated peace”.
Council passed later in the afternoon Resolution echo of this call and Demanding “comprehensive” rights monitoring of the situation in the countryto be carried out by the recently designated independent human rights expert, Radhaune Nusir, The new mandate will come into force “with immediate effect”.
the resolution was adopted by a vote 18 in favor, 15 against and 14 abstained from voting.,
It called for an immediate cessation of hostilities “without any preconditions”, and recommended all sides return to a transition towards a civilian-led government. The resolution also highlights the urgent need to protect civilians and humanitarian workers as well as ensure accountability for human rights violations.
‘Extreme suffering’, rights abuse
referring to a statement Issued Thursday by a group of independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations, Tlaleng Mofokeng, president Special Procedures Coordinating Committee And special envoy on the right to healthHighlighted the “immense suffering” endured by the people of Sudan.
Experts condemned human rights abuses experienced by “citizens of all ages”, including sexual harassment and gender-based violence, and lack of food, water and health care. Experts expressed concern over this shelling of a shelter for girls with disabilities in Khartoum, as well as for other attacks on healthcare, humanitarian workers and human rights defenders.
Ms Mofokeng called on the parties to the conflict to commit to ensuring the safety of civilians and civilian infrastructure such as schools and hospitals.
independent rights expert appointed by the High Commissioner as per human rights council Proposals are not employees of the United Nations, nor are they paid for their work.
lack of consent
Hassan Hamid Hassan, Sudan’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, questioned the decision to hold an emergency session a few weeks before the council’s regular session in June.
Mr Hassan further pointed out that the convening of the special session had not been supported by any African or Arab state.
diversity of perspectives
Nearly 70 countries, Human Rights Council members and observers, as well as non-governmental organizations spoke during the day-long meeting. Their voices presented a wide variety of opinions on the need for the special session and the extent and scope of the international community’s involvement in the crisis in Sudan.
Representing the United Kingdom, a major sponsor of the session, Andrew Mitchell, Minister of State for Development and Africa, stressed the need to fulfill former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s “vision” for the creation of the Human Rights Council in 2006. . as a body can respond quickly to human rights emergencies Like what’s on hand.
The special session was also supported by the European Union and the United States.
On behalf of the Group of Arab States, Lebanon’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Salim Baddoura, said the group welcomed all international and regional initiatives aimed at ending the conflict, the latest conversation in jeddah Under the auspices of the United States and Saudi Arabia.
He stressed that Sudan, as the affected country, had a right to have its views taken into account before establishing any new mechanisms or extending existing mandates.
Speaking on behalf of the Group of African States, Alou Lambert Yao, Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva for Côte d’Ivoire, also expressed support for “theAfrican Solutions to African Problems”, commending the mediation efforts of IGAD under the auspices of the African Union.
Pakistan’s representative Khaleel Hashmi offered another important perspective on the session by saying Risk of unnecessary duplication of work In form of security Council The political situation in Sudan was already seized and mediation efforts now “must be given priority”.
