© UN WebTV
Despite spirited opposition from Khartoum and its allies, the UN Human Rights Council voted to establish a mechanism tasked with investigating human rights violations in Sudan.
The Human Rights Council has adopted a resolution establishing an independent Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) with a mandate to investigate abuses committed in the context of the war in Sudan and identify their perpetrators.
Put forward by the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and Norway, the resolution was vehemently denounced by Sudan’s representatives before it was accepted with 19 votes in favour, 16 against and 12 abstentions.
‘Hopes in justice are revived today for thousands of Sudanese women and victims of conflict-related sexual violence in Sudan,’ a Sudanese woman human rights defender who requested to remain unnamed told ISHR. ‘We are hopeful that the creation of this Fact-Finding Mission will initiate a process of transitional justice that will support the efforts for peaceful solutions in Sudan,’ the activist emphasised.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been plunged into a devastating war. Last September, UN High Commissioner For Human Rights Volker Türk called the international community to take action to end ‘months of futile suffering, death, loss and destruction’ in the country. UN figures put the number of displaced persons in the millions and rights groups have warned of war crimes, including ‘deliberate and indiscriminate attacks’ against civilians.
However, the numerous reports of atrocities did not convince all Council members, with some States lobbying hard to block its establishment in recent days. Following requests from Somalia and China, there was no consensus and the resolution still had to go through a vote.
On 3 October, ISHR delivered a joint statement on behalf of Sudanese, regional and international organisations in support of this mechanism, stressing the need to urgently investigate human rights violations and collect evidence on abuses, gender-based violence and crimes, and alleged war crimes.
ISHR calls on all Council Member States to support the future members of the Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan in the implementation of their mandate, so that perpetrators of serious and numerous human rights violations and atrocities in the country face justice.
Local authorities in Geneva have announced their intention to place a permanent public monument paying tribute to persecuted human rights defenders, including the late Chinese human rights defender Cao Shunli. The move follows a civil society petition to have a bust made in honour of Cao placed in a prominent location in the city.
A newly-released confidential letter by a UN Special Rapporteur documents the disbarment of human rights lawyers in China and the tightening ideological control over lawyers and law firms. The UN expert denounces disappearances, closed-door trials, harassment of relatives, travel bans, and other abuses targeting human rights lawyers.
On Tuesday 16 April 2024, ISHR delivered to both Geneva’s Administrative Council and its legislative counterpart, the Municipal Council, physical copies of the more than 1000 signatures collected in support of a memorial honouring Chinese human rights defender Cao Shunli.
