EU General Comment - HRC60 - Responding to the human rights and humanitarian crisis in the Sudan

EU General Comment - HRC60 - Responding to the human rights and humanitarian crisis in the Sudan

UN Human Rights Council

60^th Session - Item 2

L.18 - General Comment

Responding to the human rights and humanitarian crisis in the Sudan

EU General Comment

Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU Member States that are members of this Council. This Explanation of vote has been agreed by the EU as a whole.

Over the past two and a half years, the human rights situation in Sudan has continued to deteriorate. The violations occurring on the ground - the indiscriminate targeting of civilians, the sexual and gender based violence, the ethnically targeted killings, the attacks on critical civilian infrastructure, and the forcible displacement - demonstrate an environment of total impunity. Famine has been declared. The humanitarian situation is a catastrophe.

Despite this dire situation, we continue to see no genuine national efforts to investigate the crimes committed by both sides with independence and impartiality. Yet accountability and justice are the only route to a sustainable lasting peace for the people of Sudan. This is why the EU strongly supports the extension of the Independent International Fact Finding mission as mandated by L.18.

This worsening crisis merits our continued attention. We believe that this resolution offers hope to the victims of violations in Sudan that perpetrators will be brought to justice and that the scourge of impunity in Sudan will end.

Mr. President,

the EU will vote yes on resolution L.18 and calls upon all others to do the same.

I thank you.