The UN rights office warns of escalating human rights abuses in Sudan, citing impunity and increasing group involvement in the conflict. Reports detail numerous civilian attacks, with calls for expanded international intervention to address war crimes and support humanitarian relief amid severe food insecurity and displacement.
The UN human rights office (OHCHR) issued a warning regarding the escalating human rights abuses in Sudan. Impunity has contributed to growing violations as armed conflicts proliferate, with numerous groups becoming involved. Recent reports highlight repeated attacks on civilians, healthcare facilities, markets, and schools, alongside ethnically motivated summary executions.
According to Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, these continuous attacks demonstrate a failure by combatants to adhere to international humanitarian law. He indicated that some abuses could constitute war crimes, necessitating prompt and independent investigation and subsequent accountability for perpetrators.
The report emphasized the need to expand the arms embargo and broaden the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction to encompass all of Sudan, rather than just the Darfur region, where recent atrocities occurred. After 22 months of intense conflict between government forces and the Rapid Support Forces, over 30 million people in Sudan are in dire need of assistance.
More than 12 million have been displaced, with 3.3 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries. The humanitarian crisis includes a steep decline in food security, as nearly 25 million individuals face acute hunger. Additionally, only 25% of health facilities remain operational in areas most affected by the conflict.
Sexual violence has emerged as a weapon of war during the conflict, with 120 documented incidents impacting over 200 victims. The report cautions that these figures may be significantly underreported due to fear, stigma, and the collapse of medical and judicial systems. All factions in the fighting have been linked to these violations.
Volker Türk described the situation as shocking, calling for immediate actions to end such violence, hold perpetrators accountable, and support survivors. The crackdown on civic space has led to widespread disappearances and targeted violence against journalists and human rights defenders.
There have been at least 12 journalist deaths, including two while in custody, and 31 arbitrary detentions. In total, over 4,200 civilian fatalities linked to hostilities have been documented in 2024, suggesting a significantly higher actual number.
Li Fung, head of the OHCHR office in Sudan, characterized the crisis as reaching a “dangerous tipping point”. She urged the international community to refocus attention on human rights and protect civilians. Fung emphasized the urgency of ensuring critical humanitarian aid reaches those in need and united support for the people of Sudan.
The UN rights office has raised concerns over the dramatic increase in human rights violations in Sudan, urging for international intervention. Key issues include widespread violence against civilians, including sexual violence and significant humanitarian crises driven by ongoing conflict. Recommendations include expanding legal jurisdictions and ensuring humanitarian aid reaches affected populations.
Original Source: news.un.org
