U.S. Mission to International
Organizations in Geneva

UPR 25th Session, Geneva, May 4, 2016
As delivered by Eric Richardson.

The United States welcomes the Sudanese delegation and offers the following recommendations:

1. Restore the cessation of hostilities declaration that reduced violence in Darfur and the Two Areas and facilitate immediate and unfettered humanitarian access to conflict areas.
2. Cooperate fully with UN and other international human rights monitors to help promote accountability.
3. Create an environment that supports inclusive dialogue, instituting legal reforms to promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

We remain gravely concerned by the dire human rights situation in Sudan.

Conflict between government forces and the armed opposition in Darfur, as well as Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan states, continues, as do human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law including:

• reported indiscriminate and deliberate bombings of civilian areas;
• ground attacks that include the killing and beating of civilians, sexual and gender-based violence, forced displacement, looting and burning entire villages, and destroying the means necessary for sustaining life; and
• attacks on humanitarian targets, including humanitarian facilities and peacekeepers.

 The government continues to unduly restrict freedom of expression.  The government also imposed travel bans on individuals seeking to participate in the current UPR Working Group.

(end statement)