UN Report Unveils Widespread Human Rights Violations in Sudan Conflict

A UN report outlines severe human rights violations in Sudan, detailing arbitrary detentions, torture, and inhumane conditions affecting detainees, including children and women. It highlights ethnic discrimination and the plight of enforced disappearances, calling for immediate reforms and international engagement to address these urgent issues.

A recent UN report concerning the civil war in Sudan has elucidated alarming allegations of arbitrary detentions, torture, and ill-treatment of detainees, affecting both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum State. The report highlights a pervasive pattern of abuses across numerous conflict zones within the nation, with thousands detained without charges, including vulnerable populations such as women and children.

The findings, stemming from testimonies of 34 former detainees, their relatives, and eyewitnesses, detail extensive torture practices, deplorable living conditions, and neglect that has led to fatalities among detainees. Many individuals reported severe overcrowding, inadequate food and water, as well as lack of medical attention, constituting violations of international human rights standards.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, emphasized the gravity of these practices, stating that “No individual should be deprived of their liberty without due process, nor subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.” The report also brings attention to the dire circumstances surrounding child detainees, some as young as 13, facing exploitation and violence.

The documentation of sexual violence against women in RSF detention centers further raises concerns regarding human rights violations. Ethnic discrimination is also evident, as detainees from regions like Darfur and Kordofan, especially African tribes, have faced disproportionate levels of abuse and mistreatment, often linked to perceived affiliations in the conflict.

Additionally, the report outlines cases of enforced disappearances, where families are left unaware of their detained loved ones’ fates. One tragic account highlights a family warned against inquiring about a detained member, only to learn later of his death. Similar abuses have been recorded beyond Khartoum State, affecting regions such as Darfur and Al-Jazirah.

The risk of further human rights violations is heightened, especially as detainees are believed to be transferred from Khartoum to other areas, including South Darfur. Turk called for immediate reforms to cement the rule of law and protect human rights within the region, urging an end to arbitrary detentions and improved conditions.

The UN’s report entreats the international community to actively engage with Sudanese authorities to rectify these abuses. With the conflict showing no signs of resolution, there is an urgent need for international action to address the ongoing humanitarian and human rights crises in Sudan.

The UN report on Sudan’s civil conflict reveals severe human rights violations, including arbitrary detentions, torture, and inadequate treatment of detainees, particularly women and children. Ethnic discrimination and enforced disappearances also signify the escalating crisis. Immediate action and international collaboration are essential to address these abuses and restore the rule of law in Sudan.

Original Source: www.arabnews.com