The UN Human Rights Council has adopted a resolution to extend the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission in Sudan for an additional year. The resolution was adopted with 28 votes in favor, 10 against, and 9 abstentions. The mission was established to investigate human rights abuses and humanitarian crises in Sudan. The resolution also demands an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and a transition to a civilian-led government.
The resolution, introduced by a broad group of countries including France, Albania, Germany, Switzerland, and the UK, was opposed by countries such as China, Cuba, and Vietnam. Pakistan, Indonesia, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, and Egypt also voted against the resolution. Most African countries abstained from voting, while Gambia, South Africa, Malawi, and Mauritius supported the resolution. The European group and countries from South America and Asia, except India and Thailand, voted in favor of the resolution.
The resolution emphasizes the importance of implementing the Jeddah Declaration to protect civilians and facilitating humanitarian access without obstacles. It also stresses Sudan's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, and rejects the establishment of parallel authorities or governance structures in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces. The resolution highlights the critical role of the International Criminal Court in investigating crimes and calls on the fact-finding mission to expand its investigation to cover the entire country, not just Darfur.
The resolution expresses concern over the severe humanitarian crisis in Sudan, with over 33 million people in need of assistance, 11.3 million internally displaced, and 4.6 million refugees in neighboring countries. It warns of a severe famine and deteriorating food security, affecting over 19.5 million people, and the use of starvation as a weapon of war. The resolution condemns the ongoing fighting and human rights abuses committed by the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.
The resolution specifically condemns the violence in El Fasher and Al-White, including siege, ethnic-based violence, and severe gender-based violence. It also expresses concern over the widespread sexual violence, abduction of women and girls, and forced recruitment of children. The resolution demands that parties to the conflict and external actors cooperate with the fact-finding mission and provide necessary information and documentation.
The resolution calls on the UN Secretary-General to provide necessary resources, expertise, and logistical support to the fact-finding mission. It also urges all parties to ensure accountability and prevent impunity for human rights abuses. The mission is mandated to provide oral updates and comprehensive reports to the Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly in future sessions.
The extension of the fact-finding mission's mandate aims to shed light on human rights abuses and ensure accountability in Sudan. Key points include:
Key points
- The UN Human Rights Council extends the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission in Sudan for an additional year.
- The resolution demands an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and a transition to a civilian-led government.
- The fact-finding mission will investigate human rights abuses and humanitarian crises in Sudan, including allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
