Press release
The United Nations Human Rights Council has introduced significant amendments to Article 21 of the draft resolution on the Sudan Fact-Finding Mission. This move was made in response to a previous recommendation from the Committee for Justice (CFJ) as part of international efforts to ensure that ongoing investigations in Sudan comply with international human rights and humanitarian law standards.
The amendments were introduced amid increasing violations committed by the Sudanese army and the Attorney General’s office against human rights defenders and humanitarian workers in Sudan. These violations have been justified under the pretext of fighting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with actions taken that severely damage human rights and freedoms.
Before the amendment, the article stated:”We welcome the declared commitment by the Sudanese authorities to investigate atrocities and prosecute those responsible, as appropriate, through independent national accountability efforts to investigate crimes and violations of national and international humanitarian law, and we urge the implementation of these commitments.”
– Consistency with International Law:
CFJ recommended addressing the urgent need to ensure that any actions taken by internal investigative committees in Sudan fully align with international law. CFJ expressed deep concern over the ongoing violations it has documented, both at the level of the Attorney General’s office and the judiciary system, which made it necessary to strengthen the legal text to ensure Sudan’s adherence to international standards.
CFJ pointed out that the recent violations specifically target human rights defenders, in light of the Sudanese government’s moves that violate fair trial standards and weaken the credibility of the judicial system.
CFJ proposed the following amendment to the article: “We welcome the declared commitment by the Sudanese authorities to investigate atrocities and prosecute those responsible through independent national accountability mechanisms, and we urge the immediate implementation of these commitments. We remind all parties that any actions taken by national investigative committees must fully comply with international human rights and humanitarian law standards to ensure that these efforts contribute to a credible, transparent, and impartial justice process.”
– Important Amendment for Justice for Victims:
The revised text of the article now states: “Preliminary Paragraph 21: We welcome the declared commitment by the Sudanese authorities to investigate atrocities and prosecute those responsible, as appropriate, through independent national accountability efforts to investigate crimes and violations of national and international humanitarian law, and we urge the full implementation of these commitments in accordance with international law.”
This new amendment strengthens the international community’s stance on ensuring genuine and effective accountability in Sudan. It marks a significant step toward achieving justice for the victims and preventing the recurrence of violations—an effort that CFJ has long advocated. The committee has called for international oversight of judicial processes in Sudan to ensure their adherence to international standards.
