Growing insecurity and human rights violations in Sudan, UN urges it is time to act

14-09-2022

Beatrice Serra

International Justice and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

Few days after the commemoration of the International Day for South-South Cooperation, the United Nations raised concerns about humanitarian catastrophic consequences in Africa, with a particular focus on Sudan. 

The deterioration of the Sudan socio-economic situation, along with protracted violence in Darfur, is posing great danger to innocent civilians, who are increasingly in need of humanitarian assistance. The situation is forecasted to worsen “unless a political situation is found to restore a credible, fully functioning civilian-led government”, UNITAMS chief and UN Special Representatives, Volker Perthes said. (UNITAMS, 2022) The human rights situation is alarming. Almost a year after the military coup in Sudan, on October 25th, security forces are still responding with excessive force to recurrent protests against the coup. According to the Secretary-General’s report (2022), from November 22nd 2021 to February 21st 2022, security forces fired “live ammunition, stun grenades and tear gas at protesters, resulting in deaths and serious injuries, including of women and children”. Health facilities and medical personnel have been targeted along with civil society activists, often being held incommunicado and enforced disappeared without charge. Several cases of sexual and gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence, have been reported, despite local doctors depicted a much worse reality. (OHCHR, 2022)

“Humanitarian needs are now at record levels” with 11.7 million people facing acute hunger. That is why the international community is urged to take advantage of the military intention to withdraw from politics and the “momentum among civilian forces” willing to reach a “common civilian vision”. Such circumstances appear suitable to reach an agreement able to restore international cooperation and lead the country towards democratic governance. (UNITAMS, 2022; UN News, 2022)

Sources and Further Readings:

United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (June 3, 2022), Sudan: UN experts urge authorities to ensure immediate accountability for past and ongoing human rights violations and stop excessive use of force against protesters, OHCHR, retrieved on September 14th, 2022, from https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/06/sudan-un-experts-urge-authorities-ensure-immediate-accountability-past-and. 

United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission In Sudan (September 13, 2022), Briefing by Special Representative of The Secretary-General, Volker Perthes, to The Security Council, UNITAMS, retrieved on September 14th, 2022, from https://unitams.unmissions.org/en/briefing-special-representative-secretary-general-volker-perthes-security-council. 

United Nations, Report of the Secretary-General,  Situation in the Sudan and the activities of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan, March 2nd, 2022, S/2022/172, https://unitams.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/sg_report_on_unitams_s-2022-172.pdf. 

United Nations (September 13, 2022), Humanitarian needs ‘growing exponentially’ across Sudan, mission chief warns Security Council, UN News, retrieved on September 14th, 2022, from https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/09/1126541