Re: Arbitrary Arrest and Enforced Disappearance of Mr. Osman Ibrahim
To: His Excellency Lieutenant General Omar Hassan al-Bashir
From: Joseph Hoffer, LRWC
Date: 2007-08-13
Further to my letter to you of July 24, 2007 it appears that Mr. Osman has now disappeared and that he requires special medical attention.
In addition to the requests set out in my correspondence of July 24th (copy attached) I am writing to bring to your attention UN approved standards requiring the requested medical treatment. The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (approved by the Economic and Social Council in 1957 and again in 1977), entitles prisoners to effective medical attention and treatment. Article 22 (2) provides,
2) Sick prisoners who require specialist treatment shall be transferred to specialized institutions or to civil hospitals. Where hospital facilities are provided in an institution, their equipment, furnishings and pharmaceutical supplies shall be proper for the medical care and treatment of sick prisoners, and there shall be a staff of suitable trained officers.
The duty to ensure effective medical treatment is part of Sudan’s binding obligation to protect Mr. Osman’s right to life guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 3) and by the Constitution of the Republic of Sudan. Articles 20 and 30 of the Constitution provide,
Article 20
Everyone has the right to life and liberty and security of person in accordance with the law…
Article 30
Everyone is free and shall not be arrested, detained or imprisoned except in accordance with law which shall prescribe the charge, the maximum time limit that one may be held without charge, the means of release and the conditions of treatment while in detention.
It is clear that, to this point in time, the authorities in Sudan have not complied with the requirements of the constitution. We renew our request that you direct those responsible for Mr. Osman’s detention to conform the Constitution of the Republic of Sudan and to Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
I would be obliged if you would acknowledge receipt of this correspondence and advise as to the steps being taken to address our concerns about Mr. Osman Ibrahim.
