Full debate, Pt. 1
Full debate (continued)
LRWC Statement at Chapter 15, 00:22:020
Full PDF Statement (ENG)
Organization: Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada
Item: Item 10: Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on oral reports of the Sudan & OHCHR (Res. 42/35)
Date: 16 July 2020
Speaker: Temisan Boyo
Oral Statement to the 44th Session of the UN Human Rights Council from Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada (LRWC), NGO in special consultative status
Mme. President,
Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada thanks the Government of Sudan and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on progress towards the opening of a country office in Sudan. We note that the High Commissioner has identified transitional justice as one of the areas of focus for the new country office.[1]
More than one year has passed since Sudanese security forces violently attacked peaceful protesters, killing more than 100 and wounding dozens, but the victims and their families are still waiting for justice and reparations. The national investigative committee established to examine and address the human rights violations that occurred on June 3, 2019, stated recently that it will submit a report to the attorney general after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.[2]
We are deeply concerned about this continued delay in ensuring accountability and justice for victims. The committee’s report should made public at the earliest opportunity and the attorney general should take all measures within his power to ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions, and to promote reconciliation through the meaningful participation of victims in this process.
We ask the Council to urge the Government of Sudan to respect the rights of victims to transitional justice within a reasonable time. We also reiterate the call of UN experts for the establishment of a comprehensive victim-centered and gender-sensitive transitional justice process, aiming to address all past abuses and prevent their recurrence.[3]
Thank you, Mme. President.
[1] Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, “Bachelet signs “milestone agreement” to open UN Human Rights Office in Sudan”, 25 September 2019, available at https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25919&LangID=E
[2] Human Rights Watch, “Sudan: Justice for June 3 Crackdown Delayed”, 2 June 2020, available at https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/06/02/sudan-justice-june-3-crackdown-delayed
[3] Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, “Sudan: Khartoum massacre victims and their relatives still waiting for justice one year on”, 3 June 2020, available at https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25055&LangID=E
