GENEVA (12 June 2019) – UN experts said today they were seriously concerned that Sudan was sliding into a “human rights
abyss”, urging the Human Rights Council to establish an independent investigation into violations against peaceful
protesters since the start of the year.
“Given the scale and seriousness of the reported human rights violations and the need to act quickly to prevent further
escalation, we call on the Human Rights Council to establish an independent investigation into the human rights
violations in Sudan and to actively monitor developments on the ground,” said the experts appointed by the Human Rights
Council in Geneva.
The UN experts expressed alarm at reports of numerous deaths and injuries since 3 June 2019 as a result of the use of
excessive force and violence by State Security Forces, and in particular the Rapid Support Forces, against peaceful
demonstrators.
“One of a State’s most fundamental duties is to protect life,” they said. “In pursuing ordinary law enforcement
operations, using force that may cost the life of a person cannot be justified. International law only allows Security
officers to use lethal force as a last resort in order to protect themselves or others from death or serious injury.
“We urge the authorities to ensure that security forces handle protests in line with the country’s international human
rights obligations and to carry out independent and thorough investigations.”
Women have been at the forefront of the peaceful protests in the country in recent weeks and months and have been among
the first victims of the violence, including sexual violence, the experts said, adding that dozens of women human rights
defenders had been arbitrarily held in an attempt to intimidate them. While some have been released, information
received suggests several remain in police custody and are in need of medical attention.
The Sudanese authorities’ failure to respect and protect their citizens’ rights to freedom of association and peacefully
assembly, to express their opinions and to make peaceful demands on their Government was also a matter of grave concern,
the experts said. The experts called on authorities to reconnect the internet network after it was shut down at the
start of June 2019.
“Freedom of expression and assembly is essential so that the legitimate concerns of the people can be heard and their
needs, including their human rights, addressed,” they said. “The demonstrators have been calling for democratic change,
including the hand-over of power to civilians by the Transitional Military Council (TMC).
“We call upon the Transitional Military Council to respect and protect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to
address the underlying causes for the demonstrations. As instructed by the African Union, the TMC must promptly hand
over power to a civilian authority. This will avoid further precipitating Sudan into a human rights abyss.”
The experts expressed concerns about reports that three opposition leaders from the Sudan People’s Liberation
Movement-North (SPLM/N Malik Agar faction) were allegedly deported from Sudan at the weekend. The men were arbitrarily
arrested by the National Intelligence and Security Services last week.
ENDS
(*) UN experts: Mr. Aristide Nononsi from Benin, the Independent Expert on the human rights situation in Sudan; Mr. Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, from Togo, the Special Rapporteur on the right to peaceful assembly and association; Ms. Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Mr. Michel Forst (France), Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; Ms Meskerem Geset Techane,
Chair of the Working Group on discrimination against women in law and practice.
The Independent Experts are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system,
is the general name of the independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms of the Human Rights Council that address
either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a
voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any
government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
UN Human Rights, Country Page – Sudan
Reports on Sudan by previous UN Independent Experts.