ToPermanentRepresentatives

ofmemberandobserverstates
oftheUNHumanRightsCouncil

Geneva,18July2014

RE:HumanrightssituationinSudanatthe27
th
sessionoftheHumanRightsCouncil

Excellency,
Theundersignedorganizationsurgeyourdelegationtorecognizeandrespondtothegravityofthe
humanrightssituationinSudan,andtoensurethattheHumanRightsCouncil(HRC,ortheCouncil)
addressestheseriousandwidespreadviolationsofhumanrightsandinternationalhumanitarianlawin
thecountryundertheCouncil'sagendaitem4duringitsupcoming27
th
session.
Oneyearago,inlateSeptemberandearlyOctober2013,Sudanesegovernmentsecurityforcesviolently
crackeddownonpopularprotestspromptedbyeconomicausteritymeasuresinWadMadani,Khartoum,
Omdurman,andothertownsacrossSudan,.Theyusedexcessiveforce,includingliveammunitionagainst
theprotesters,resultinginthedeathofatleast170people,includingchildren,andhundredsmorebeing
wounded.Authoritiesalsoarrestedlargenumbersofpoliticaloppositionpartymembersandactivistsinthe
leadupto,duringandaftertheprotests.Todate,thegovernmenthasfailedtoholdthoseresponsiblefor
theseactstoaccount.

Duringthesameweekasthegovernmentsviolentcrackdown,on27September2013,theCouncil
adoptedaresolutionontechnicalassistancefortheSudanthatignoredtheongoingviolationsandthe
repressionofbasiccivilandpoliticalrights.
1
TheCouncilalsofailedtocondemninthestrongesttermsthe
Sudanesegovernmentscontinuedindiscriminatebombing,attacksoncivilians,andotherviolationsin
Darfur,SouthernKordofanandBlueNilestates.TheCouncilfellshortofurgingthegovernmentofSudanto
takethekeyactionstopromoteaccountabilityandimprovethehumanrightssituationinthecountry.
Oneyearon,anddespitePresidentOmaralBashirspromiseinApril2014toreleaseallpolitical
detainees,arbitrarydetentionofactivists,humanrightsdefenders,andpoliticaloppositionfigureshas

1
HumanRightsCouncil,Resolution24/28,TechnicalassistancefortheSudaninthefieldofhumanrights,27
September2013http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?si=A/HRC/RES/24/28
continuedunabated,againstabackdropofcontinuedrestrictionsonfreeexpressionandpeacefulpolitical
activities.OnJuly892014,theUNHumanRightsCommitteelamentedthelackofconstructivedialogue
withSudanduringitsreview,emphasizingthatissuesraisedinpreviousreviews,someofthemdatingback
1997,hadnotbeenaddressed.
Authoritiesfailedtoinvestigateallegationsthatthosedetainedhavebeensubjectedtotortureand
inhumanordegradingtreatment.Mediaandjournalistscontinuedtobeforcedintosilencethrough
systematiccensorshipandarbitrarydetentions.IntheconflictzonesofSouthernKordofan,BlueNile,and
Darfur,Sudanesegovernmentforces,includingtheRapidSupportForcesformedinlate2013and
comprisedinlargepartofformerJanjaweedmilitiasnowformallyintegratedintogovernmentforces
andarmedoppositiongroupshavecontinuedtocarryoutserioushumanrightsviolationsandabusesinall
threeareas.
InMayandJune2014,thegovernmentintensifiedaerialbombardmentsinSouthernKordofan,usingboth
indiscriminateandtargetedattacksoncivilians.InDarfur,morethanhalfamillionpeopleweredisplaced
byrenewedconflictandgovernmentattacks,includingbothaerialbombardmentofpopulatedareasand
groundattacks.HRCResolution24/28of27September2013wasregrettablyillustrativeoftheCouncil's
persistentfailuretorespondeffectivelytothesituationinSudan,focusingsolelyontechnicalassistance.
Thereisacriticalneedforindependenthumanrightsmonitoringandreportinginthecountrywhile,
governmentforcescontinuetoperpetrateserioushumanrightsviolationsunchecked,notonlyinthe
conflictzonesinstatesthroughoutSudan,butalsointhecountryscapital,includingextrajudicialkillings,
arbitraryarrestsandprolongeddetentionswithoutdueprocess,tortureandilltreatment,andrepression
ofrightsofspeechandassembly.
InlightofthegravityofthehumanrightssituationinSudan,weurgetheHumanRightsCouncilto
redressitsfailedengagementonSudanandtoadoptaresolutionatits27
th
sessionthatwould:
Condemntheexcessiveuseofforceleadingtothedeathofscoresofprotestersandthe
continuedimpunityofsecurityforcesinthecontextofsuchkillings,condemnthecontinued
restrictionsonthemedia,onhumanrightsdefenders,ontherightstofreedomsofassociation
andofpeacefulassembly,andurgethegovernmentofSudantocompleteandmakepublicthe
resultofitsinvestigationsintothekillingsandinjuriesofprotestersthatoccurredinSeptember
andOctober2013;toinvestigateotherallegationsofhumanrightsviolationsandabusesduring
theprotests;andtoholdperpetratorsofsuchactstoaccount;
CallforthereleaseofindividualswhohavebeenarbitrarilydetainedbytheNationalIntelligence
andSecurityServicesfortheirrealorperceivedpoliticalopinionsandconductimpartialand
promptinvestigationsintoallallegationsoftortureandilltreatment;callforthereformof
SudansrepressiveNationalSecurityActof2010tobringitintolinewithinternationalstandards;
callfortherepealofprovisionsofSudanssecuritylawsthateffectivelygrantimmunityto
abusivegovernmentofficials;
Condemninthestrongesttermstheviolationsofhumanrightsandinternationalhumanitarian
lawinDarfur,SouthernKordofan,andBlueNilestates,includingindiscriminateandtargeted
aerialbombardmentsofcivilianareas,andotherindiscriminateattacksonciviliansby
governmentforcesandalliedmilitia;
UrgethegovernmentofSudantoallowunfetteredaccessbyUNAMIDandhumanitarian
agenciesandNGOstoallpartsofDarfur;facilitateunhinderedaccessbyhumanitarianagencies,
humanrightsmonitors,andNGOstoallpartsofSouthernKordofanandBlueNile;
EstablishanindependentinvestigationintohumanrightsviolationscommittedinSouthern
KordofanandBlueNilestatesincethearmedconflictbrokeoutin2011;
StrengthenthespecialproceduremandateonSudan,establishingaSpecialRapporteuronthe
situationofhumanrightsintheSudanunderitem4,withamandatetomonitorandpublicly
reportonviolationsofhumanrightsandinternationalhumanitarianlawinallpartsofSudan.

WeannextothisletteradetailedbriefingnoteonthesituationofhumanrightsinSudansincethe
adoptionoftheHumanRightsCouncilspreviousresolutiononSudaninSeptember2013.Oncemore,we
calluponyourdelegationtoplayaleadingroletoensurethattheHumanRightsCouncilstopsfailingthe
manyanddiversevictimsofhumanrightsabusesandviolationsinSudan.
Wethankyouforyourattentiontotheseverypressingissues.
Sincerely,
AfricanCentreforJusticeandPeaceStudies(ACJPS)
AmnestyInternational
ArryOrganisationforHumanRightsandDevelopment
CIVICUS:WorldAllianceforCitizenParticipation
CommunityEmpowermentforProgressOrganisation(CEPO)
DarfurBarAssociation
DarfurReliefandDocumentationCentre(DRDC)
EastandHornofAfricaHumanRightsDefendersProject
JournalistsforHumanRights(JHR)Sudan
HumanRightsandDevelopmentOrganization(HUDO)
HumanRightsConcernEritrea
HumanRightsWatch
InternationalCenterforPolicyandConflict
InternationalCommissionofJurists(ICJ)
InternationalFederationforHumanRights(FIDH)
SouthSudanHumanRightsDefendersNetwork(SSHRDN)
SudanConsortium
SudanDemocracyFirstGroup
SudanSocialDevelopmentOrganization(UK)

Annex:SituationofhumanrightsinSudan
sinceSeptember2013

Excessiveuseofforceinthecontextofprotests

InlateSeptember2013,governmentsecurityforcesshotteargas,rubberbullets,andliveammunitionat
protesters,usingexcessiveforceduringsometimesviolentmassproteststhateruptedafterthe
introductionofausteritymeasures.Sudanesehumanrightsgroupsreportedthatmorethan175people,
mostofthemteenagersorintheirearlytwenties,werekilledbygovernmentsecurityforcesduringthe
protests.
2
GovernmentforcesalsoshotandkilledatleastsevenpeopleincludingtwochildreninNyala,
SouthDarfur,duringSeptemberprotestsoverthekillingbymilitiaofaprominentbusinessman.
Almostoneyearafterthefacts,theSudanesegovernmenthasyettoinvestigateorholdaccountablethose
responsibleforthekillingsandotherrelatedabuses,inspiteofpromisestoinvestigatetheseallegations
andthereportedcreationofthreeinvestigativecommittees.Instead,thegovernmenthascontestedthe
casualtynumbersanddeniedthatsecurityforceswereresponsible.Theonlyfindingsmadepublicfocused
solelyondamageallegedlycausedbyprotesters,andfailedtoinvestigatedeathsofprotestersandalleged
unlawfuldetentions,illtreatmentandtorture.
3

Sudanesepoliceandnationalsecurityforces,joinedbyarmedmenincivilianclothes,usedexcessiveand
lethalforceatKhartoumUniversitytodisperseDarfuristudentsprotestingtherecentattacksagainst
civiliansinDarfur,killingaDarfuristudent,AliAbakerMusaIdris,andinjuringseveralothersinMarch
2014.
4

Arbitrarydetention,illtreatmentandtorture

Governmentauthoritieshavecontinuedtotargethumanrightsdefenders,studentprotesters,journalists,
politicalopponents,andotherswithrealorperceivedlinkstorebelmovementsacrosstheSudan,with
arbitrarydetention,illtreatmentandtorture.
SudansNationalIntelligenceandSecurityServices(NISS)retainswidepowersofarrestanddetention,and
searchandseizureandareroutinelyusedtotargetpoliticalopponentsforprolongeddetentionwithout
charge.TheNationalSecurityActof2010allowsdetentionforuptofourandahalfmonths,without
chargeorjudicialreview.TheNISSroutinelydeniesdetaineesaccesstolawyersorfamilyvisits,and
subjectsdetaineestoilltreatmentandtorture.Despitenumerousdocumentedcasesbyhumanrights
groups,therehavestillbeennoknownprosecutionsofNISSofficersfortortureorotherilltreatment.

2
TheAfricanCentreforJusticeandPeaceStudies(ACJPS)documented185deaths,andverifiedthenamesof144
victims.See,ACJPSandREDRESS,SudansHumanRightsCrisis,SubmissiontotheUNHumanRightsCommittee
aheadofitsExaminationofSudansFourthPeriodicReportundertheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPolitical
Rights,June2014.
3
HumanRightsWatch,WeStood,TheyOpenedFireKillingsandArrestsbySudansSecurityForcesDuringthe
SeptemberProtests,April,2014.
4
ACJPS,Onepersondeadand7criticallyinjuredafterSudaneseforcesopenfireonUniversityofKhartoumstudents,
12March2014.

Manycasesreportedinthelastyearwereinconnectionwiththegovernmentsharshcrackdownon
protestersinKhartouminSeptemberandOctober2013.Securityofficialsdetainedatleast800protestors,
oppositionpartymembersandactivists,arrestingmanyfromtheirhomes.Manyofthosearrestedwere
releasedwithindays,oftenfollowingsummarytrialsleadingtofloggingsorfines,butotherswereheldfor
weeksormonthswithoutchargeoraccesstofamilyorlawyers.
OnApril6,2014,PresidentalBashirsaidhewouldreleaseallpoliticaldetaineesandeaserestrictionson
oppositionpartiesandthemedia.However,afewdaysafter,on15AprilBashirissueddecreeNo.158,
whichforbidspoliticalpartiesfromorganizingmeetingsintheirownvenueswithoutapprovalandrequires
permissionforpublicmeetings48hoursinadvance.On1MaytheSudanesePoliticalPartiesAffairsCouncil
announcedthattheSudaneseRepublicanPartysapplicationtoregisterasapoliticalpartyhadbeen
rejectedbecause,amongstotherthings,thePartyspoliticalideologycontradictedtheconstitutional
provisionthatSudaneselawshouldbebasedonSharia(IslamicLaw).
5

Althoughanumberofpoliticaldetaineeswerereleasedinthedays,afteralBashirscommitmenttorelease
themothershavesubsequentlybeenarrested.Threestudents,arrestedonMay12,whohadparticipated
incampaignsprotestingthekillingofAliAbakerMusaIdrisbygovernmentsecurityforcesatKhartoum
Universityin11March2014,remainedinNISSdetentionwithoutchargefortheirrealorperceivedpolitical
viewsfornearlytwomonths.Twoofthemenshowedsignsofhavingbeenseverelybeatenwhenthey
weregrantedbriefvisitsinJune.
6

InMay,authoritiesarrestedSadiqalMahdi,headoftheoppositionUmmaParty,forcriticizingtheRapid
SupportForces,releasinghimafteramonth.TheNISSandpolicehavealsodetainedseveralmembersof
theSudaneseCongressPartyforsimilarcriticisms.
Sudaneseorganizationshavedocumentedadditionalcasesoftheprolongeddetentionwithoutchargeof
activistsbecauseoftheirrealorperceivedpoliticalopinions,somehavebeenindetentionforoverfive
months.Dr.SidigNoreenAliAbdalla,auniversityprofessor,hasbeendetainedwithoutchargebytheNISS
inElObeid,NorthKordofan,sinceJanuary16,wellinexcessofthelegalperiodofuptofourandahalf
monthspermittedbytheNationalSecurityActof2010.
7

Restrictionstofreedomsofexpressionandassociation

Sudanhascontinuedwelldocumentedpatternsofrestrictingthemediathroughdirectandindirect
censorship,blacklistingand/orprosecutingjournalists,andorderingeditorstoreportonlyonissuesthat
fallwithintheredlinesdeterminedbythegovernment.
InSeptember2013,authoritiestightenedrestrictionsonmediatopreventcoverageoftheprotests.
Nationalsecurityofficialsinstructednewspapereditorsnottopublisharticlesrelatedtotheprotests,
confiscatededitionsofthreenewspapers,summonedseveraljournalistsforquestioning,jammedthe
receptionofinternationalTVstations,andblockedtheInternetforoneday.MostnewspapersandtheTV
stationshaveresumed,butremainundertightscrutiny.

5
ACJPS,Sudan:guaranteesafetyofdetainees,19June2014.
6
Jointrelease,ACJPS,AI,FIDH,HRW,REDRESS,Sudan:EndArbitraryDetentionofActivists,June25,2104,at
http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/06/25/sudanendarbitrarydetentionactivists
7
Ibid.
Overfifteennewspapersweresubjectedtopostprintcensorship,includingconfiscationofprintededitions
betweenJanuaryandMarch2014theNISS,somemultipletimes.Thecrackdownhasseverely
circumscribedtheavailabilityofindependentinformationinSudanandrepressionofmaterialdeemedby
theNISStobecriticaloftheNCP.
8

Similarly,Sudaneseauthoritieshaveroutinelytargetedandharassed,intimidated,andclosedcivilsociety
organizationsovertheyears.InrecentyearstheNISSappearedtotargetseveralgroupsthatreceived
foreignfundinginadditiontothoseworkingonhumanrightsandaccountabilityforatrocitiesinconflict
zones.
InDecember2012,securityofficialsshutdownthreecivilsocietygroupsandoneliteraryforum,and
summonedleadersofothergroupsforquestioning.Authoritieshaveobstructedgroupsfromlegally
registeringandrefusedpermissionfororcancelledpublicactivitiesintownsacrossSudan.Inearly2013,
authoritiesalsoshutdownNubaandChristiangroups,arrestingstaffandconfiscatingproperty.Church
leaderswerequestionedaboutsourcesoffunding,andthegovernmentdeported,orotherwiseforcedover
170foreignchurchmemberstoleaveSudan
Inrecentmonths,authoritieshavepreventedvariousgroupsfromholdingeventsontheconstitution
makingprocess,womensrights,andothertopicsofpublicconcern.InJune2014,authoritiesorderedthe
closureofSalmaahCenter,awomensrightsorganizationsinKhartoum.
Freedomofreligion
Underarticle126ofSudanscriminalcode,aMuslimwhorenouncesIslamisguiltyofapostasy,
punishablebydeathunlessheorsherecantswithinthreedays.Theprovisionshouldberepealed,asit
contravenesbasicfreedomofreligionprotectionsinSudansconstitutionaswellasarticle18ofthe
InternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights(ICCPR).OnMay15,2014ajudgeinKhartoum
sentencedapregnant27yearold,MeriamYahyaIbrahim,todeathforthecrimeofapostasy,andto100
lashingsforadultery.
TheseconvictionsandharshsentencescontraveneSudaneseandinternationallawandpointtoSudans
continuingdiscriminationagainstreligiousminoritiesandwomen.Meriamgavebirthinherprisoncell,
shackledbeforeherconvictionswereoverturnedonappealfollowinginternationaloutcry.Althoughshe
hasbeenreleasedfromdetentionshehasnotbeenabletoleaveSudanwithherfamilyowingtonew
chargesleviedagainstherconcerningdisputedtraveldocumentationissuedbySouthSudan.
Darfur

Arecentincreaseingovernmentledattacksonvillageshasbeendocumented.InlateFebruaryandearly
March2014,thenewlyformedSudanesegovernmentforce,theRapidSupportForces(RSF),whichhad
previouslybeendeployedagainstSudanRevolutionaryForcerebelsinNorthKordofan,attackeddozensof
ethnicFurandZaghawavillagesinSouthDarfur.

Theattacks,comingafterrebelforcesfledthearea,appearedtotargetcivilians,andforcedtensof
thousandstofleetheirhomes.Governmentaircraftbombedthearea,followedbygroundattacksfrom
largenumbersofforcestravelinginlandcruisersandonhorsesandcamels.
9
Thegovernmentforces

8
ACJPS,SudanHumanRightsMonitor,Issue25.
9
HumanRightsWatch,RenewedAttacksonCiviliansinDarfur,March21,2014,
http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/03/21/sudanrenewedattacksciviliansdarfur
destroyedboreholesusedforwater,stoleanimals,andburnedhomes,witnessessaid.Sincethen,
governmentforceshavealsocontinuedtobombandattackpopulatedareasineasternJebelMaraandin
NorthDarfur.
CommunalviolencehasalsoincreasedinDarfurinthelasttwoyears,especiallybetweenArabpastoralist
groups.Sudanesegovernmentforceswereunwillingorunabletoprotectciviliansandinsomecases
participatedinthefighting.InApril,2013,AliKosheib,aknownmilitialeaderwhoiswantedbythe
InternationalCriminalCourt(ICC)forallegedcrimesinDarfur,participatedinlargescaleattacksonethnic
SalamatvillagesinCentralDarfur,beforebeingseriouslywoundedinMay.Fightingbetweenthegroups
continuedin2014.
SudancontinuedtodenypeacekeepersfromtheAfricanUnionUnitedNationsMissioninDarfur(UNAMID)
accesstoconflictaffectedareasofDarfur.InsecurityalsounderminedUNAMIDswork,witharmed
attackersroutinelyattackingpeacekeepers,killingscoressincethemissionsestablishment.Accessfor
humanitarianagenciesinallconflictzonesremainsseverelylimited.Theprovisionofhumanitarian
assistancetopopulationsinneedwasfurtherobstructedwhenSudaneseauthoritiessuspendedthe
operationsoftheInternationalCommitteeoftheRedCrosson1February2014.TheICRCissueda
statementon19May2014expressingconcernthatthesuspensionofitsactivitiesformorethan
threemonthswashavingsevereconsequencesfortheSudanesepopulationinareasaffectedby
thearmedconflict.
10

SouthernKordofan,NorthernKordofanandBlueNile
Sinceconflictbrokeoutin2011,SudanesegovernmentforcescontinuetofightwiththeSudan
RevolutionaryFront(SRF),arebelcoalitionformedbytheSudanPeoplesLiberationArmyNorth(SPLA
North)andDarfurrebelgroups.InApril2013,fightingspreadtoNorthKordofan,displacingtensof
thousands.Thefightinghasbeenmarkedbyseriousviolationsofinternationalhumanrightsand
humanitarianlaw,includingindiscriminateaerialbombardmentsthathaskilledandmaimedhundredsof
civilians;ithasdestroyedschools,clinics,andothercivilianbuildings,andithasinstilledfearinthecivilian
population.
InDecemberandJanuary2014theSudanesegovernmentdeployedtheRapidSupportForcesinSouthern
Kordofan.Followingclashes,thegovernmenttroopswerewithdrawntoNorthernKordofan,justsouthof
thestatecapitalElObeid.Therewerenumerousreportsoflooting,armedattacksandsexualviolence
againstciviliansinnearbytownsfollowingtheirrelocation.MayandJune2014bombingintensifiedin
SouthernKordofanwithreportedlyhundredsofbombsdroppedoncivilianareasincludingahospital
compoundandaidorganizationsfacilitiesintheNubaMountains.
TraffickingandDeportationofEritreanrefugees
ThousandsofEritreans,whohavebeenfleeingtoSudansincethe1960sandbeenlivinginrefugeecamps,
havepaidSudaneseandEgyptiansmugglerstohelpthemtravelfromeasternSudantoIsraelviaEgypt.In
2014HumanRightsWatchpublishedareportdocumentinghowsince2010,Sudanesetraffickershave
abusedandtorturedEritreanrefugees,includingthroughrape,mutilationandburning,forransom.Human
RightsWatchalsodocumentedcasesinwhichSudanesepoliceandSudanesemilitaryhandedEritreans
directlytotraffickerswhothenabusedthem.

10
ICRCNewsRelease,Sudan:Continuedsuspensionofactivitieshasseverehumanitarianimpact,19May
2014.
HumanRightsWatchalsoobtainedcredibleinformationthatonMay1,2014,Sudaneseauthoritiesin
easternSudanhanded30EritreansovertoEritreansecurityforces.Sixmembersofthegroupwere
registeredrefugees.SudanesesecurityforceshadarrestedthegroupinearlyFebruaryneartheLibyan
borderanddetainedthemforthreemonthswithoutchargeandwithoutaccesstotheUNrefugeeagency.
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