The Committee for Justice (CFJ) organized a closed civil society consultation that brought together more than ten Sudanese organizations with the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan, represented by Dr. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, member of the Mission.
The consultation provided a confidential and protection-sensitive space for Sudanese civil society actors to brief the UN Fact-Finding Mission on recent human rights developments, documentation priorities, and urgent protection concerns amid the continuing armed conflict in Sudan.
During the discussion, participating organizations raised concerns regarding the deteriorating situation of Sudanese refugees and displaced persons, including protection gaps in neighboring countries and the continued risks faced by civilians fleeing violence. Participants also discussed the suspension and restriction of NGO work in Darfur, and the broader impact of shrinking civic space on humanitarian, legal, and human rights work.
The consultation further addressed patterns of violations committed in the context of the conflict, including violations against women and girls, the targeting and intimidation of human rights defenders, the impact of the war on journalists and independent reporting, and the collapse of the health care system in several areas affected by hostilities.
Participants also highlighted the lack of cooperation by the warring parties with international and regional fact-finding mechanisms, stressing the importance of stronger action by States to uphold the mandate of the UN Fact-Finding Mission and ensure that it has the political, technical, and financial support necessary to carry out its work effectively and independently.
The discussion also touched on the role of external actors in fueling or prolonging the conflict, and the need for stronger international scrutiny of any support that may contribute to violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
CFJ emphasized that Sudanese civil society organizations remain central to documentation, survivor support, early warning, and accountability efforts, despite severe security, access, and operational constraints. CFJ further stressed the need to ensure safe, systematic, and protection-sensitive channels for engagement between Sudanese civil society and UN and African human rights mechanisms.
The consultation forms part of CFJ’s broader efforts to strengthen engagement between Sudanese civil society and international and regional accountability mechanisms, and to support victim-centered pathways for justice, protection, and accountability in Sudan.