HRC 50 - EU Intervention: Enhanced interactive dialogue on the report of the High Commissioner on the situation of human rights since, and human rights violations and abuses committed during, the period of the military takeover in the Sudan

Thank you Mr Vice President,

The EU welcomes the lifting of the State of Emergency and the release of detainees as commendable first steps in creating the needed conducive environment for dialogue. The informal negotiations between the parties are also encouraging; they need to translate into concrete decisions to resolve the political deadlock.

The high number of reported cases of violent attacks against peaceful protesters, human rights defenders and journalists, unlawful killings, sexual and gender based violence and arbitrary detentions continue to be worrisome. Time is of the essence to find an inclusive and sustainable way out of the crisis. We call on Sudan’s military authorities to immediately end their campaign of violence against civilians, release all those detained since 25 October and end violence against peaceful protestors and human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders.

There has been a serious increase in violence and human rights abuses since the coup, including in the fragile regions of Darfur and South and Western Kordofan. Impunity for violations, must not be allowed to continue, and perpetrators must be held to account.

Madame High Commissioner, Mr. Dieng,

you highlight excessive use of force by security services, to repress dissent, resulting inter alia in 93 persons being killed and thousands injured. What immediate steps must be taken now that the State of Emergency is lifted to ensure the rights to peaceful assembly and association as well as freedom of expression?

Thank you.