The development comes after more than three weeks of fighting between the Sudanese army (SAF) loyal to General Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
UN rights chief Volker Türk opened the meeting condemning the “want violence” which has led to more hunger, deprivation and displacement on the people of Sudan, while both sides “suppressed international humanitarian law“.
From a ‘light of hope’ to a humanitarian disaster
Mr. Türk reminded the Council that in 2019 Sudan emerged as a “light of hope” after popular protests with women and youth “at the forefront” ended the three-year democratic government of Omar al-Bashir. He spoke about his visit to the country six months ago – his first mission as UN rights chief – when A change to civilian government is on the horizon.
Recalling his meetings at the time with the two rival leaders, the UN rights chief said his message emphasized accountability and human rights as essential to any future agreement.
“Today, great damage has been done, destroying the hopes and rights of millions of the people,” said Mr. Türk.
To date, more than 600 people were killed in the conflict, more than 150,000 have fled Sudan, and more than 700,000 have been displaced. Record levels of hunger are expected in the country in the coming months.
An urgent call for peace
The UN rights chief stressed the desperate need for humanitarian relief and an end to human rights violations.
The Council later in the afternoon passed a resolution echoing this call and requires monitoring the “information” rights of the situation in the country, to be performed by the recently appointed independent expert, Radhouane Noucier. The new order will come into force “with immediate effect”.
The decision was taken by a vote 18 in favor, 15 against, and 14 abstentions.
He called for an immediate cessation of hostilities “without preconditions”, and the commitment of all parties to return to the transition to a civilian government. The resolution also highlights the urgent need to protect civilians and humanitarian workers, as well as to ensure accountability for human rights violations.
‘great punishment’, rights abuses
Referring to a statement issued on Wednesday by a group of independent UN-appointed human rights experts, Tlaleng Mofokeng, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Special Procedures and Special Rapporteur on the right to health, highlighted the “great suffering” of the people have endured. Sudan.
The experts attacked human rights abuses experienced by “citizens of all ages”, including sexual assault and gender-based violence, and lack of food, water and health. Experts explain the alarm shelling of a shelter for disabled girls in Khartoum, and other attacks on health, on humanitarian workers and on human rights defenders.
Ms. Mofokeng called on the parties involved in the conflict to resolve to ensure the safety of citizens and civilian infrastructure, such as schools and hospitals.
Independent human rights experts appointed by the High Commission in accordance with the decisions of the Human Rights Council, are not UN staff nor are they paid for their work.
Lack of permission
The Permanent Representative of Sudan to the UN in Geneva, Hassan Hamid Hassan, requested the decision to hold an emergency meeting a few weeks before the regular session of the Council in May.
Mr. Hassan also pointed out that the postponement of the special meeting has not received the support of African or Arab countries.
Diversity of opinion
Some 70 countries, both Members and observers of the Human Rights Commission, and NGOs, spoke during the daily meeting. Their voices reflect diverse opinions on the need for a Special Session and the extent and scope of the international community’s involvement in the crisis in Sudan.
Representing the United Kingdom, the special assistant of the time, Andrew Mitchell, Minister for Development and Africa, emphasized the need to make a “vision” former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for the Human Rights Commission at its founding in 2006. , as part of this of can respond quickly to human rights emergencies like the one at hand.
The Special Assembly is also supported by the European Union and the United States.
On behalf of the Arab League, the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the UN in Geneva, Salim Baddoura, said that the group welcomes all international and regional initiatives aimed at ending the conflict, the latest in speaking in Jeddah under the support of the United States and Saudi Arabia.
He emphasized that Sudan, as an affected country, has the right for its views to be taken into account before establishing any new regulations or existing orders.
Speaking on behalf of the African Union, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Côte d’Ivoire to the UN in Geneva, Allou Lambert Yao, also expressed support for “African solutions for African problems”, he praised the mediation efforts of IGAD under the auspices of the African Union.
The representative of Pakistan, Khalil Hashmi, gave another important perspective on the session, he said unnecessary double risk as the Security Council has already agreed of the political situation in Sudan and that reconciliation efforts must now be “given first”.
