Press Release
Ahmed Mefreh, the Executive Director of the Committee for Justice (CFJ),” expressed deep concern about the ongoing deterioration of human rights in Sudan due to the armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.
– A significant role facing even greater challenges:
Mefreh made these remarks during an oral statement he delivered to the Human Rights Council in its 57th session’s interactive dialogue on Sudan, commending the efforts of the Fact-Finding Mission, which plays a vital role in documenting violations and providing necessary recommendations to both the international and local communities, as he stated.
Mefreh also highlighted the significant challenges the UN mission faces, including restricted access to affected areas and a lack of cooperation from the warring parties. Despite these challenges, the mission documented alarming violations in Chad since the conflict erupted, affecting millions of Sudanese. More than 10 million people have been internally displaced, and over 2 million refugees have fled to neighboring countries.
– Calls to prevent impunity:
Mefreh explained that the documented violations included systematic violence against civilians, especially women and children, such as arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, mass rape, the looting of homes, and the recruitment of children for combat. Both parties to the conflict also target lawyers and human rights activists by restricting their movement, detaining, or even killing them to prevent them from fulfilling their roles.
In closing his statement, Mefreh urged the Council to extend the mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission, ensure it receives the necessary support, and prolong its work for an additional year. He also called on the warring Sudanese parties to respect international law and human rights, halt violence against civilians, and emphasized the importance of the international community ensuring accountability for these violations, achieving justice for the victims, and preventing impunity.
