Geneva, 3 July 2026
In its statement delivered during the Human Rights Council’s urgent debate on the human rights situation in and around El Obeid, North Kordofan, Committee for Justice (CFJ) called for strengthening the draft resolution under consideration to ensure greater protection for civilians, reinforce accountability, and preserve the effectiveness of both international and regional human rights mechanisms.
CFJ reported that it had documented the killing of at least 19 civilians and the injury of several others following drone attacks targeting El Obeid on 11 and 12 June 2026. The organization stressed that these attacks reflect a broader pattern of violence against civilians and civilian infrastructure, including health facilities, markets and humanitarian operations, while further restricting humanitarian access.
The organization emphasized that the protection of civilians is a legal obligation under international law and must remain at the centre of the Council’s response to the conflict in Sudan.
While welcoming the draft resolution, CFJ called on the Council to preserve and strengthen the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan, emphasizing that any reinforcement of the role of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights should complement—not replace—the Mission’s independent investigative mandate.
CFJ also urged the Council to recognize more explicitly the contribution of regional human rights mechanisms by referring to the Banjul Declaration, adopted on 12 May 2026, as an important outcome of cooperation between the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan, demonstrating the value of complementarity in advancing civilian protection and accountability.
Furthermore, the organization recommended adding a new operative paragraph urging the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to engage in good faith with the confidence-building measures proposed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in February 2026, as a practical step to enhance civilian protection, facilitate humanitarian access, and reduce the risk of further atrocities.
CFJ concluded by stressing that preventing further violations in Sudan requires preserving robust international accountability mechanisms, strengthening cooperation between international and regional institutions, and adopting practical measures that place the protection of civilians at the centre of the Human Rights Council’s response.
