Contact: Dismas Nkunda +256-78-310-404
UN SECURITY COUNCIL MUST DO MORE FOR DARFUR
(KAMPALA and NEW YORK, March 29, 2023) The Darfur Consortium, an umbrella group of primarily Africa-based civil society organizations, today called on the Security Council to take decisive action to halt the ongoing crisis in Sudan’s Darfur region.
Last week’s Security Council Resolution 1590 authorized deployment of a 10,000 strong UN force to assist with the implementation of the peace accords ending the civil war in the South of Sudan. But it did not specify how the African Union (AU) mission currently in Darfur would be assisted to ensure the functioning of a fully effective “protection force.”
“While Security Council Resolution 1590 was a step forward for the people of Southern Sudan and Sudan as a whole, once again the people of Darfur have been held hostage to international politics,” said Dismas Nkunda of the Consortium. “In considering a new resolution on Darfur this week the Security Council must send two unequivocal messages: that protection of civilians in Darfur is non-negotiable and that those responsible for ongoing atrocities will be held accountable. Darfurians can wait no longer.”
Despite the best efforts of the African Union (AU) mission, the work of the AU troops currently deployed on the ground in Darfur has been severely hampered by a restricted mandate and a lack of human, technical and logistical resources. “The AU must receive the necessary authorization from the Security Council to develop a mission mandate and ground presence which will allow it to adequately protect the civilian population and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid in Darfur,” said Dismas Nkunda.
An effective protection force is only one of a range of measures which are needed to effectively address the ongoing human rights and humanitarian catastrophe. The Security Council must also take bold steps to ensure that justice for the horrendous crimes committed in Darfur is effectively and expeditiously carried out and build the framework of mechanisms necessary to ensure that the victims of the conflict and their descendants are adequately compensated for their losses. Sanctions must also be imposed to reflect the determination of the international community to take action against those who so flagrantly defy decisions of the Security Council.
Referral of the situation of Darfur to the International Criminal Court (ICC) by the UN Security Council is the foundation stone of this process. In January the International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur reported to the Security Council that “the Sudanese justice system is unable and unwilling to address the situation in Darfur.” Attempts to mount trials for a small handful of alleged perpetrators have been entirely insufficient against the background of the scale and ferocity of the violence. A referral to the ICC will not only send a strong message that Africa and the international community will stand side by side with the people of Sudan in ensuring that those who have committed the gravest of offences will be held accountable. Ultimately it may even prevent further atrocity.
“The suffering in Darfur continues,” said Dismas Nkunda. “It is past time that the Security Council specifically and forcefully addressed the needs of Darfurians.”
|
Member Organizations:
Action Professionals Association for the People
Aegis Trust Rwanda
African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies
African Center for Development
African Society of International and Comparative Law
African Women's Development and Communications Network (FEMNET)
The Ahueni Foundation
Alliances for Africa
Amman Centre for Human Rights Studies
Andalus Institute for Tolerance
Anti-Slavery International
Arab Program for Human Rights Activists
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
Centre for Minority Rights Development (CEMIRIDE)
Centre for Research Education and Development of Freedom of Expression and Associated Rights (CREDO)
Citizens for Global Solutions
Conseil national pour les libertés en Tunisie
Darfur Alert Coalition
Darfur Centre for Human Rights and Development
Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre
Egyptian Organization for Human Rights
La Fédération Internationale des Droits de l'Homme
Femmes Africa Solidarité
Human Rights Centre, University of Pretoria
Human Rights First
Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA)
Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa
Inter-African Union for Human Rights (UIDH)
Interights
International Commission of Jurists
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
International Refugee Rights Initiative
Justice Africa
Justice and Peace Commission
Lawyers for Human Rights
Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections
Legal Resources Consortium-Nigeria
Ligue Tunisienne des Droits de l'Homme
Makumira University College, Tumaini University
Minority Rights Group
National Association of Seadogs
Open Society Justice Initiative
Pan-African Movement
People Against Injustice (PAIN)
Rencontre Africaine Pour la Defense des Droits de l'Homme
Sudan Organization Against Torture
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)
Sudanese Refugee Association in South Africa
Syrian Organization for Human Rights
Universal Human Rights Network
WARIPNET
World Organization Against Torture
|