Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on Sudan
Statement by the United States of America
Human Rights Council, 30th Session
September 30, 2015
As prepared for delivery
Thank you, Mr. President. The United States thanks the Independent Expert on the situation of Human Rights in Sudan, Aristide Nononsi, for his solid report and recommendations. We agree that the human rights situation in Sudan remains a source of serious concern.
Over the last year, the situation in Sudan has not improved. Conflict continued between government forces and rebels in Darfur, as well as Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan states, particularly in connection with the Operation Decisive Summer.
As the Independent Expert’s and other reports indicate, government forces, government-aligned groups, rebels, and other armed groups committed human rights violations and abuses, and violations of international humanitarian law, throughout the year. The most serious incidents reported included those involving apparently indiscriminate bombings and deliberate attacks on civilians, scorched earth tactics and widespread forced displacements of civilians, and restrictions on humanitarian assistance and movement of civilians. In addition, serious incidents of sexual and gender-based violence, attacks on humanitarian targets, including peacekeepers and humanitarian facilities, torture, arbitrary detentions, and severe restrictions on speech, assembly, and association continue. We express serious concern about the attack this week against a UNAMID team in North Darfur. We join the African Union PSC Chair in extending condolences in the killing of one South African peacekeeper and the injury of others in this unconscionable attack.
We share the Independent Expert’s concern about impunity.
The Government of Sudan’s human rights record and its lack of progress towards improving the human rights situation in the country underscore the urgent need for the HRC to maintain a strong mechanism to properly monitor and report on the human rights situation to the United Nations.
The United States believes that a cessation of hostilities, access for humanitarian workers, and an inclusive political dialogue would benefit the Sudanese people.
In closing, we would like to pose one question to the Independent Expert: How do we convince the Government of Sudan to cease attacks on its own people, allow immediate and unobstructed humanitarian access, and initiate genuine political reforms?