Khartoum/Geneva: Ahead of the protests planned to take place across Sudan tomorrow, the United Nations Human Rights has called on military leaders to ensure that the Sudanese people’s rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are fully respected.
“Security forces need to receive clear instructions that they must not disperse peaceful assemblies and must refrain from the use of force unless absolutely necessary, as a measure of last resort and only to the minimum extent required,” Liz Throssell, Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in Geneva today .
With the reported killing of 14 people and injury of some 300 during protests between October 25 and 30 October due to the use of force by military and security forces, which Throssel described as “unnecessary and disproportionate”, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) stated it is crucial that all necessary steps are taken to ensure that there is no further bloodshed at protests planned for tomorrow and beyond.
Demanding that those responsible for the violence, including the use of live ammunition against demonstrators – must be promptly and transparently held accountable, in line with international human rights laws and standards, the OHCHR also urged the authorities to release immediately all individuals who remain arbitrarily detained since the October 25, 2021 coup.
Most of the detainees have been held incommunicado now for more than two weeks, and the UN Human Rights Office in Sudan has verified the arrest of 57 people, including Government officials, political and civil society actors, human rights defenders and journalists, since October 25.
“We understand 10 of these people have since been released, but we have yet to receive a written response to our formal request for information about and access to the detainees. Access has also been denied to their lawyers and family members,”Throssel said.
In addition to these arbitrary detentions, hundreds of protesters have also been arrested, including, reportedly, 87 teachers. While most are held for a short time and then released, some remain detained, the OHCHR claimed.
In Sudan, internet and telecommunications services remain curtailed, seriously hampering the ability of people to communicate in the midst of a crisis, as well as damaging livelihoods. The UN Human Rights called on the authorities to respect the Khartoum court ruling yesterday, ordering telecommunications companies to restore Internet services to all their customers pending further proceedings. The OHCHR reminded that blunt measures such as blanket Internet and telecommunications shutdowns, sometimes for prolonged periods, violate the principles of necessity and proportionality and contravene international law.
The appointment of the Sovereign Council is a setback to efforts to obtain a political agreement. As the High Commissioner for Human Rights has stressed, meaningful, inclusive, participatory dialogue is urgently needed to ensure a swift return to civilian rule in Sudan, Throssell said.
In the meantime, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet today designated Adama Dieng, a Senegalese national, as an expert on human rights in Sudan, following a request from the UN Human Rights Council.
The UN Human Rights Council had held a special session on Sudan on November 5, 2021 to discuss the implications of the October 25 military takeover on the human rights situation in the country. At the special session, the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution, which requested the High Commissioner to designate an expert on human rights in Sudan.
According to the resolution, Dieng will monitor the developing human rights situation in Sudan with the assistance of, and in close cooperation with, the UN Joint Human Rights Office in Sudan. In performing his duties, he will pay special attention to victims and ensure a gender perspective. He will engage with all relevant parties, including civil society.
The work undertaken by Dieng will contribute to the written report that the High Commissioner will present to the Human Rights Council in its fiftieth session in June 2022. He will assume his duties immediately, and his term of office as an expert for Sudan will conclude upon restoration of the country’s civilian-led government.
Adama Dieng is currently a member of the United Nations Internal Justice Council and the Special Adviser to the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity. He is a former UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide.
– global bihari bureau
