Christian
Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has joined 35 African and International NGOs and
individuals to call on Permanent Representatives of Members and Observer States
at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to take stronger action to
address the widespread and grave human rights violations in
Sudan.
Despite discussions on the nation's human rights situation having taken
place at the HRC in September 2015, the Sudanese military and allied militia
have continued to violate international humanitarian and human rights law by
abusing and targeting civilians in South
Kordodan, Blue Nile and Darfur, and by
severely repressing civil and political rights.
In a letter outlining its serious
concerns, the group calls for the
strengthening of the mandate on Sudan, which is currently largely confined to
technical assistance and capacity building. The letter urges the adoption of a
strong and action-orientated resolution on Sudan under agenda item 4, and the
mandating of a Special Rapporteur to monitor and report on human rights
violations and recommend concrete ways of ending the
abuses.
The letter calls on the Permanent and Observer States at the Council to
urge the Government of Sudan to implement recommendations made during its
Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in May 2016. It also notes and condemns the
government’s crackdown on protests and restrictions on civil society and human
rights defenders, including the interception off our civil society
representatives at Khartoum Airport who were traveling to a high level human
rights meeting in Geneva.
The crackdown on civil and political rights has included increasing
restrictions on the right to freedom of religion or belief. Since December 2015
there has been an increase in arbitrary detentions of church leaders and several
have been held incommunicado. The government has interfered in the
affairs of the Sudan Evangelical
Presbyterian Church (SEPC) by authorising an illegally constituted committee to
administrate on behalf of the denomination. Three men, including two senior
leaders of the Sudan Church of Christ (SCC), Reverend Hassan Abduraheem and
Reverend Kuwa Shamal, are currently on trial for national security
crimes after Reverend Abduraheem
donated money towards the medical treatment of a Darfuri student injured in a
demonstration. The case against Reverend Kuwa appears to be due to his
friendship with Reverend Abduraheem and his senior position in the
SCC.
CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said, “We urge the Permanent Representatives of Members and Observer States at
the United Nations Human Rights Council to take serious action in response to
the deplorable human rights situation in Sudan.The reports of severe violations
from every part of the country are serious enough to warrant the strengthening
of the mandate and the appointing of a Special Rapporteur. The targeting of
civilians in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur, the restrictions on civil and
political rights, including on freedom of religion or belief, and the harassment
of civil society, and human rights defenders are deeply concerning. We call on
the Council to adopt a resolution that addresses the realities on the
ground.”
