UN Human Rights Council 62: UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue with the UN Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan

Mr President,

The UK thanks the Fact-Finding Mission for its harrowing update. It is deplorable that as the conflict enters its fourth year, such grave violations and abuses of human rights continue unabated.

Mr President, we are deeply alarmed by what we have heard today. Systematic arbitrary detention and torture devastate civilian lives. Rape and other forms of sexual violence are abhorrent and must end. Survivors must be supported and those responsible held to account. Let us be clear: sexual violence must never be used as a tactic of war.

The expanding use of drones is intensifying humanitarian need, with over 880 civilians reportedly killed by drone strikes this year alone. We deplore the continued targeting of civilian infrastructure, including schools, markets, and hospitals.

We call on the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces and their allies to comply fully with their obligations under international humanitarian law, enable safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access and end the fi