UN Report Reveals Harrowing Patterns of Human Rights Violations in Sudan War

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has published a report detailing widespread arbitrary detention, torture, and ill-treatment by both the RSF and SAF in Sudan. Highlighting severe violations, the report cites tens of thousands of detainees held unlawfully in squalid conditions. It also emphasizes ethnic discrimination and urges both parties to cease these violations and improve access to justice.

A report released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Thursday reveals alarming patterns of arbitrary detention, torture, and mistreatment conducted by both the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in Sudan’s Khartoum State. The report emphasizes that since April 2023, tens of thousands have been imprisoned without charges, often in deplorable conditions with minimal contact with their families.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stated, “The widespread practices of arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment of detainees, and inhumane conditions of detention facilities, in contravention of international norms and standards, are deeply disturbing.” The report draws on 34 interviews with former detainees and their families, detailing severe abuses encountered during imprisonment.

Accounts from former detainees depict extreme torture, including frequent beatings and overcrowding, with detainees suffering from inadequate food and healthcare. Disturbingly, children as young as 14 are reported to act as guards, and those below 13 are detained alongside adults with instances of sexual violence against female detainees.

Ethnic discrimination is evident in practices used by both RSF and SAF, as individuals from certain ethnic groups, particularly those from Darfur and Kordofan, face targeted violence and mistreatment. The report highlights an alarming trend of individuals disappearing without trace in detention, amplifying worries of enforced disappearances in these facilities.

Moreover, the report indicates a concerning pattern of the RSF transferring detainees to undisclosed locations, exacerbating fears regarding violations of international human rights standards. Türk urges an immediate end to arbitrary detentions and calls for improved conditions and access to justice for detainees.

Furthermore, a previous report noted that entrenched impunity is a contributing factor to the unfolding human rights crisis in Sudan, as armed conflicts extend across various regions. The report advocates for greater accountability measures and international intervention to halt these violations.

The UN report on the human rights situation in Sudan paints a grave picture of systematic violations, including arbitrary detention, torture, and ethnic discrimination, primarily by the RSF and SAF. Tens of thousands remain unjustly imprisoned under inhumane conditions. The UN calls for immediate action from both parties to cease these practices and urges the international community to address these severe human rights abuses to restore justice and rule of law in Sudan.

Original Source: www.dabangasudan.org