Remarks by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk to Human Rights Council Special Session on the situation in El Fasher, Sudan

“The atrocities that are unfolding in El Fasher were foreseen and preventable – but they were not prevented. They constitute the gravest of crimes. My Office has issued more than 20 statements on El Fasher alone over the past year, based on information verified by our team,” he said.

“We warned repeatedly about the strangulating, suffocating siege, under which people were reduced to eating animal feed and peanut shells. We warned about the spread of famine, as people starved to death. And we warned that the fall of the city to the Rapid Support Forces would result in a bloodbath,” he added.

“So none of us should be surprised by reports that since the RSF took control of El Fasher, there have been mass killings of civilians; ethnically targeted executions; sexual violence including gang rape; abductions for ransom; widespread arbitrary detentions; attacks on health facilities, medical staff and humanitarian workers; and other appalling atrocities,” he said.

This is a pattern that we have documented time and again in this conflict, the High Commissioner said.

“But our wake-up calls were not heeded. Bloodstains on the ground in El Fasher have been photographed from space. The stain on the record of the international community is less visible, but no less damaging,” he added.

The international community has a clear duty to act, said Türk. The High Commissioner said there has been too much pretence and performance, and too little action. It must stand up against these atrocities – a display of naked cruelty used to subjugate and control an entire population. It must take action to prevent continued large-scale human rights violations, often ethnically motivated, in Darfur and beyond. And it must ensure that civilians from El Fasher and the surrounding areas have access to the humanitarian aid and protection they so desperately need.

“First, all States with influence must take urgent, concrete action to ensure the protection of civilians in El Fasher and safe passage for those trying to leave. States must press for the unimpeded flow of aid, and fund humanitarian programmes fully,” he said.

“Second, States need to make a concerted effort to hold to account all those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law in this conflict,” Türk said.

“My staff are gathering evidence of violations that could be used in legal proceedings. We have deployed several missions to areas where civilians are fleeing and are sending more,” he added.

“The International Criminal Court has indicated that it is following the situation closely.

All those involved in this conflict should know: We are watching you, and justice will prevail,” he added.

“Third, the international community needs to take action against the individuals and companies that are fueling and profiting from this war,” Türk said.

“Fourth, I urge everyone with influence to stand up for international law. That means advocating for an urgent referral by the Security Council of the situation in the entire country to the International Criminal Court. And it means making the arms embargo a reality, not only in Darfur, but across the whole country,” the High Commissioner said.

Sudan is built on the diversity of its people, the Human Rights Chief said. The war is setting regions and communities against each other, ripping apart the social fabric, with consequences that will reach down generations.

The High Commissioner implored all parties to the conflict to put their country and its people first, and to engage in meaningful peace negotiations, a humanitarian truce, and a transition to inclusive civilian rule. He urged them to fulfil their obligations under international law to ensure the protection of civilians and the passage of humanitarian aid.

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact

In Geneva:

Liz Throssell: +41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org

Jeremy Laurence: +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org

Marta Hurtado: +41 22 917 9466 / marta.hurtadogomez@un.org

Tag and share - X: @UNHumanRights and Facebook: unitednationshumanrights