On 3 October 2023, a joint statement was delivered by ISHR on behalf of a group of Sudanese, regional and international organisations during the informal on the draft resolution ‘Responding to the Human Rights and Humanitarian Crisis Caused by the Ongoing Armed Conflict in the Sudan’. The organisations called on States to support the establishment of an independent and international Fact Finding Mission on Sudan during the ongoing 54th Council session.

We, the undersigned Sudanese and international organisations, call on the members of the Human Rights Council to adopt the (proposed) resolution on Sudan, establishing an independent and international  fact finding mission, responding to the human rights and humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing war since 15 April.

National and international feminist and human rights groups reported mounting violations and atrocities in Darfur, Khartoum, Kordofan and Blue Nile states. Atrocities documented included mass killings, sexual violence, ethnically motivated violence in Darfur, forced disappearance and indiscriminate bombardment on civilians areas.

The war in Sudan is considered one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time. Access restrictions on humanitarian aid and lack of safe corridors threaten the lives of millions of people living in catastrophic conditions across Sudan, mostly women and children. More than 5 millions were displaced, thousands of people were killed and injured and dozens were sexually assaulted.

The absence of the State institutions and the rule of law led to worsening human rights violations in the country. Local justice systems and law enforcement institutions collapsed and have not functioned in most of Sudan since the war erupted. There is an essential need for the establishment of an independent and international fact finding mission to investigate human rights violations and collect evidence on abuses, gender-based violence and crimes, and alleged war crimes.

We urge the Council members to support the establishment of this mission to increase Sudanese people’s access to justice and accountability, and enhance the chances of creating a transitional justice process that will support the efforts of peacemaking in Sudan.

Signatures:

1. Sudanese Doctors for Human Rights
2. Governance Programming Overseas
3. Sudanese Women Rights Action (SUWRA)
4. Nora center for combating sexual violence
5. The Women Guardians Organization
6. Almostaqbal for Enlightenment and development organization
7. The Regional Coalition for Women Human Rights Defenders in SouthWest Asia and North Africa (also known as WHRDMENA)
8. International Service for Human Rights
9. International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI)
10. African Center for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS)
11. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)
12. International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
13. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)
14. Centre for Democracy and Human Rights – CDD Mozambique
15. West African Human Rights Defenders Network (WAHRDN/ROADDH)
16. CIVICUS
17. Southern African Human Rights Defenders Network (Southern Defenders)

Signatures post-delivery:

1. 1. Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT) Belgium
   2. ACAT Germany
   3. Alalag Press Center
   4. Choice for Youth and Sexuality
   5. Civilis Human Rights
   6. Confederation of Sudanese Civil Society Organizations
   7. Federal Association of Vietnamese Refugees in the Federal Republic of Germany
   8. Forum Menschenrechte
   9. Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
   10. Global Human Rights Group
   11. International Centre for Ethnic Studies, Sri Lanka
   12. International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)
   13. Journalists and Writers Foundation
   14. Journalists for Human Rights – JHR – Sudan
   15. Nazra for Feminist Studies
   16. Pax Christi Germany
   17. PAX – Netherlands
   18. Refugee Council of Australia
   19. Rights for Peace
   20. Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network
   21. Sudan Human Rights Network
   22. The Regional Centre for Training and Development of Civil Society (RCDCS)
   23. Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG)
   24. Way Organization
   25. WILPF Germany
   26. Women Human Right Defender Coalition Darfur
   27. Women of Sudanese Civic and Political Groups (MANSAM)
   28. Yemen Organization for Defending Rights & Democratic Freedoms
   29. Yemeni Institute for Strategic Studies