HRC58: Human Rights Situation in Sudan
The 58th Session of the Human Rights Council
24 February to 04 April 2025
Item 2: Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General
Enhanced ID on report of the High Commissioner on the Sudan with the assistance of the Designated Expert (S-36/1)
27 February 2025
By Lorenzo Bersellini / GICJ
Executive Summary
On 27 February 2025, the Human Rights Council convened to discuss the High Commissioner’s report on the Situation of Human Rights in Sudan (A/HRC/58/29). The report, submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution S-36/1, continues to highlight the multiple violations committed by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the period between 16 December 2023 and 15 November 2024, including sexual and gender-based violence, arbitrary detentions, and artillery shelling in densely populated areas.
During the dialogue, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the African Union Special Envoy for the prevention of the Crime of Genocide and other Mass Atrocities in Africa, members of civil society and many states called for the warring parties to lay down their weapons, to find a lasting political solution to the conflict in Sudan, and ensure justice for the victims of grave violations. Multiple delegates also insisted on the importance of respecting Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and of fostering a comprehensive dialogue – including the country’s civil society, neighboring states, and regional organisations supported by the UN - to solve the crisis.
Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) strongly condemns the unlawful conduct of war by the belligerent parties in Sudan, which has resulted in widespread human rights and humanitarian violations and abuses. In particular, GICJ denounces the sexual and gender-based use of violence as a systematic method of warfare, disproportionately affecting women, children, and aid workers. Furthermore, the increase of ethnically motivated attacks is particularly alarming and needs to be stopped. GICJ stands with all the innocent victims of one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in the world and urges all parties involved to stop fighting and ensure accountability for perpetrators of crimes.
Background
On 15 April 2023, a civil war broke out in Sudan, pitting the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in a struggle for power and control of the country. In 2019, the SAF and the RSF jointly orchestrated a coup to overthrow Al-Bashir’s regime and prompt a democratic transition. The ousting of Sudan’s former dictator resulted in the creation of a transitional government led by the military hand-picked Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. He was first arrested in 2021 before being briefly reinstated until 2022, when popular protests forced him to resign. The head of the government and the responsibility for the democratic transition was thus left to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, commander of SAF, and Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, leader of RSF. However, the two leaders could not agree on some points of contention (including the role of the RSF within the state army), which eventually paved the way for the ongoing power struggle that has dragged the country into civil war.
In terms of the conflict’s impact on civilians, the UN has described the ongoing civil war and resulting violations as the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophe. At the moment, around 25 million Sudanese are facing acute hunger, with more than 600,000 people about to face starvation. Famine has also been reported in five regions of the country.
Over 18,800 civilians have been reportedly killed since April 2023, although the numbers might be higher. Particularly gruesome are the reported personal attacks and violations accused by both civilians and aid workers, including intimidation and sexual, gender-based violence in the form of rape. Such violations, committed by both sides and their allied militias, have been systematically used as a means of war, mainly affecting women and girls in the country. According to UN Women, over 12 million women and girls are at risk of gender-based violence. Indiscriminate and brutal attacks against civilians have been driven by the suspicions of collaborating with the enemy or by the perceived or existing ethnic divisions in the country, which is raising concerns of possible ethnic cleansing and genocide. Victims are condemned to face these atrocities with little to no support, as less than 30% of the country’s medical centers are working, and access to judicial authority is severely reduced.
At the moment, more than 30 million Sudanese are in need of humanitarian aid and assistance.
Sudan is also currently experiencing the world’s largest displacement crisis, with 12.5 million forcibly displaced people, 8.9 million internally displaced people (IDPs), and 3.5 million refugees and asylum seekers.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights described the harrowing reality on the ground in his latest report (A/HRC/58/29), which he presented in front of the Human Rights Council pursuant to resolution S-36/1. Not only did Mr. Türk report multiple cases of human rights and international humanitarian law (IHL) violations and abuses, but he also called for an immediate ceasefire to take place, unimpeded humanitarian access to reach the millions of Sudanese suffering, and for accountability of all perpetrators to be achieved.
Enhanced Interactive Dialogue
Opening statements
Mr. Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, reflected on the findings of his latest report as he addressed the Council. He began by affirming that the Sudanese people are experiencing the world’s largest humanitarian catastrophe.
The High Commissioner stated that more than 600,000 people are about to face starvation. Famine has already been reported in more than five areas of the country, including the Zamzam displacement camp in North Darfur, where the World Food Programme (WFP) cannot operate anymore due to intense fighting. More than twenty other areas are at risk of starvation. Around 30,4 million people are in urgent need of assistance, while more than 12 million have been displaced. These are just some of the statistics that the High Commissioner disclosed to paint the “abyss” faced by Sudan.
When describing the suffering of civilians, the main victims of this war, the High Commissioner condemned the blatant violations of human rights and IHL as the cause behind the bloodshed and the devastating humanitarian situation, coupled with a total culture of impunity and lack of accountability.
Following the report’s publication, Mr. Türk noted that there has been a surge in attacks by both parties and their allied militias against civilians in densely populated areas, including schools, markets, hospitals, and IDP camps.
Sexual violence continued to be violently inflicted upon civilians, disproportionately affecting women and girls This includes forms of gang rape as a weapon of war, which has gone vastly underreported due to the stigma and the fear of reprisals by society and the collapse of judicial and medical institutions.
Citing the report, the High Commissioner emphasised the ongoing recruitment of children as soldiers in the army and the reduction of the civic space – in particular for human rights defenders and journalists – as alarming aspects of the war.
In his statement, Mr. Türk also highlighted the economic aspect of the conflict, as the fight for control of natural resources remains at the center of the dispute and is fueled by regional and international actors.
Finally, he called for:
- negotiations and mediation efforts towards an immediate cessation of hostilities;
- measures to protect civilians, end sexual violence, and the recruitment and use of children;
- safe passage of humanitarian relief and humanitarian aid workers to all areas
- coordinated diplomatic efforts by the international community towards finding a path to peace; and
- investigation of violations and abuses to ensure accountability.
Mr. Osman Mohamed, the Minister of Justice of Sudan, intervened as representative of the concerned country.
He expressed his general support for the High Commissioner’s report, especially when it condemns the rebel militias (the RSF) as directly or indirectly responsible for the unprecedented IHL and human rights violations. Nevertheless, he pointed at the inaccuracy of the report when it refers to “all parties to the conflict”, thereby extending responsibility to government forces as well – accusations he rejected.
The Minister then directly accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of fostering the conflict by providing weapons to the rebel militias in breach of UNSC Resolution S/RES/2750 as well as by supporting the rebels politically and mediatically.
In regards to the conduct of the SAF, the Minister reiterated the commitment and respect of their fighters to the principles of IHL in the fulfillment of the constitutional duty to protect the Sudanese people and the nation. He therefore denied any wrongdoing and violations by the SAF.
On one hand, the RSF were accused of brutally raping women and children and arbitrarily detaining more than ten thousand people under inhuman circumstances. On the other hand, the government was portrayed as a provider of safe spaces for victims and as a facilitator of access to justice and remedies.
The Minister concluded by renewing the Sudanese commitment to the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian aid – impeded by the RSF in his view – as testified by the government’s decision to open national borders to the unimpeded transit of aid. Finally, he called upon all countries to respect the UN Charter by upholding Sudanese territorial integrity and independence.
Adama Dieng, the African Union Special Envoy on the Prevention of Genocide and other Mass Atrocities, took the floor after the Minister of Justice of Sudan. After regretting the ongoing events in the country, which he also described as the world’s worst humanitarian and human rights situation, Mr. Adama Dieng condemned the widespread attacks against civilians by both sides of the conflict. These include executions, abduction, torture, sexual violence, slavery, sexual slavery, looting of private property, and indiscriminate bombardment.
He pointed that the levels of rape have reached a level that are forcing women to commit mass suicide to avoid being victims.
Mounting concern was also raised by the increasing ethnic dimension of the conflict, which has been growing at an alarming rate, especially in Darfur.
All of this represents, quoting, “an indictment on our collective humanity, especially, to our common commitment of never again”.
He thus called the Council to:
- continuously advocate for an unconditional and credible ceasefire between the parties while supporting ongoing regional and international efforts;
- engage and advocate for unhindered humanitarian access; and
- advocate for respect of human rights and international humanitarian law and for a stable and inclusive political environment in Sudan.
He finally moved to describe the conflict in Sudan as senseless.
Ms. Hanaa Eltigani is a young Sudanese woman and an activist advocating for justice and accountability in her country. She is the Assistant Secretary-General of the Youth Citizens Observers Network (YCON). Her remarks depicted a vivid picture of the situation on the ground and the response of the affected civilians.
She started by affirming that the war dates back to before 2023, as it is decades in the making. Moreover, she added that the conflict is the outcome of a corrupted global system that “profits from the suffering of others”. She maintained that the war is a representation of the internal contradictions of Sudan in its intersections with the global system.
She denounced violations by both the RSF and the SAF, including attacks on villages and civilian areas, carrying out executions, committing massacres, systematically recurring to sexual violence, and forcibly recruiting children.
Ms. Eltigani then brought attention to the humanitarian catastrophe that is unfolding in Sudan, which has been depriving more than 19 million children of the right to education, as they are unable to attend school. Furthermore, the catastrophic levels of hunger and the collapse of the healthcare system worsened the crisis.
Among other calls, Ms. Eltigani advocated for an immediate ceasefire, sanctions on states supplying arms to warring parties, and concrete action against gender-based violence.
This is a quote from her statement that well summarises the determination of the Sudanese people:
“This war will leave permanent scars that may never fully heal, but we will not allow it to define us. We will transform this grief into action, this pain into resistance. Our struggle is not just survival—it is a vision, and a promise of a Sudan outside the conditionalities of violence and war.”
Regional Groups Positions
The delegate of Kuwait, speaking on behalf of fellow Arab Gulf states, expressed his worry for the escalating violence in the brother country of Sudan and the ongoing massacres. He called on all parties to abide by IHL and protect civilians. He reminded all parties to the conflict to implement Security Council Resolution 2736, including a ceasefire on humanitarian grounds in line with the Jeddah Declaration (an international peace agreement signed in Saudi Arabia by the representatives of both the SAF and the RSF in 2023). A truce would be especially needed considering the holy month of Ramadan has approached.
The delegate of the European Union (EU) expressed concern at the appalling situation highlighted by the High Commissioner’s report. The Delegate attributed responsibility for the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Sudan to both the RSF and the SAF. He uttered the EU's complete condemnation of mass killings perpetrated by both parties, in particular involving human rights defenders. He then welcomed the extension of an independent African Union fact-finding mission in the country and called on Sudan to collaborate with the Independent Fact-Finding Mission (IFFM) mandated by the Human Rights Council. Finally, he reaffirmed the EU support for the right of self-determination for the Sudanese people.
The delegate of Iceland, speaking on behalf of the group of Nordic Baltic Countries, urged all parties to secure rapid access to humanitarian deliveries. He also condemned the violations committed by all parties to the conflict, including executions, arbitrary arrests and sexual violence. The delegate advocated for accountability measures to be implemented and for impunity to cease while protecting civilians at all times.
The delegate of Ghana ensured that the whole Group of African States, for whom he spoke on behalf, is closely monitoring the situation in Sudan as the crisis unfolds. The delegate mentioned that the group embraces the principles of complementarity, subsidiarity, and the doctrine of African solutions for African problems.
While the Group welcomed regional and international mediatory attempts, they stressed the need for a single coordinated international effort under the direction of the African Union and the support of the UN and the League of Arab States.
The group also urged all parties to cease fighting and respect the agreement signed in Jeddah to ensure the protection of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
They also appreciated the collaboration shown by Sudan with UN Mechanisms, including the IFFM, and showed support to the country’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
International action in support of Sudan was invoked.
Countries Positions
The delegate of the UAE shared the concern of the High Commissioner in regards to the humanitarian situation and urged for a ceasefire during the month of Ramadan. The delegate also defined Sudan’s accusations against his own country as “baseless and unbased allegations” . He denounced such criticism as a way to distract the attention from the suffering of brotherly Sudanese people.
The delegate of Egypt expressed his country’s solidarity with the brotherly Sudanese people and reiterated the importance of respecting the principle of non-interference in the state’s internal affairs. He argued that the integrity of Sudan should be respected. The delegate also reiterated his country’s support to the Sudanese who are fleeing the conflict and called all neighboring countries to do the same.
The delegate of Eritrea supported the Sudanese government and its state institutions, as they insisted that Sudan has sufficient domestic capacities to investigate the current abuses and violations. She also applauded the country’s collaboration with UN-mandated and other human rights mechanisms. She finally called for the Sudanese peace process to be supported by neighboring countries.
The delegate of Russia noted the efforts of the lawful government to engage in fruitful negotiations while calling on all parties, primarily the RSF, to de-escalate the violence. The delegate reminded that borrowing democratic models is not an acceptable solution.
The delegate of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland described the conflict as being wholly unnecessary after an unnecessary coup d’etat. He stated that the UK is appalled by the violations reported on the ground, especially the attacks on IDP camps. He then called all parties to uphold the Jeddah Declaration Commitments and to hold all perpetrators accountable.
After taking note of the High Commissioner’s report and aligning with the African Group position, the delegate of South Sudan underscored the importance of reaching an immediate ceasefire agreement to ensure the protection of civilians. He commended the government of Sudan’s collaboration with existing human rights mechanisms and called for the respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.
UN Women
UN Women was extremely concerned about the disproportionate impact that the conflict is having on girls and women in Sudan, especially for ethnically motivated conflict-related sexual violence.
The delegate stated that, despite being the majority of those in need of humanitarian assistance, women and girls have 30% less access to humanitarian support compared to their male peers.
Over 12 million women and girls are at risk of gender-based violence, whereas reported survivors increased by 288% in 2024, according to the UN agency.
Generally, women human rights defenders and IDPs are also more in danger than men to fall prey to attacks against them.
UN Women echoed the High Commissioner’s call for the enforcement of strict orders within the armies to end conflict-related sexual violence.
UNICEF and Civil Society Representatives
UNICEF and multiple NGOs intervened during and at the end of the dialogue. Overall, they all advocated for a rapid ceasefire and the protection of civilians. They insisted on terminating the use of sexual and gender-based violence as a systematic weapon of war and called for legal and medical access to be restored for the victims. They also stood in solidarity with local human rights defenders who face discrimination and have been killed for doing their job.
Concluding remarks
The session was concluded with final statements delivered by Ms. Eltigani, the Minister of Justice of Sudan, the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the High Commissioner for Human Rights. They all reinstated their initial positions. Of particular gravity was the heartfelt declaration of the High Commissioner, who asserted his great belief in the power and ingenuity of the Sudanese people to reach a long-lasting peace for themselves. He also reminded all the Delegates present that sovereignty always comes with responsibility towards the local citizens.
Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) welcomes the High Commissioner's report on the human rights situation in Sudan as a means to ensure accountability for the committed crimes and provide justice to the Sudanese people. We strongly condemn the unlawful conduct of war, which has resulted in widespread human rights and humanitarian violations and abuses. We thus urge all parties to respect the obligations they undertook, including those of the Jeddah Declaration, to reach a durable ceasefire.
GICJ strongly denounces the sexual and gender-based use of violence as a systematic method of warfare, disproportionately affecting women, children and aid workers. Furthermore, the increase of ethnically motivated attacks is particularly alarming and needs to be stopped. GICJ stands with all the innocent victims of one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in the world and urges all parties involved to stop fighting and ensure accountability for perpetrators of crimes. Humanitarian access needs to be rapidly restored and granted to avoid further casualties. The window for action is reducing every day. We show support and solidarity to the Sudanese people and to those that advocate for the defence of human rights in the country, despite persecution and danger.
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