The African Union (AU) has initiated a comprehensive fact-finding mission to investigate human rights violations in Sudan, urging individuals, civil society groups, and human rights institutions to contribute reports of abuses since the onset of the conflict.
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), in collaboration with the AU Department of Peace, Security, and Political Affairs (DPAPS), is leading the mission. The call for submissions, which runs until February 2, 2025, aims to collect detailed documentation to monitor, assess, and address rights violations effectively.
In a statement, the ACHPR emphasized the importance of contributions to the mission’s work, pledging confidentiality for all submissions to safeguard the identities of individuals and organizations involved.
The mission seeks detailed accounts of violations across various areas, including:
- Civil and Political Rights: Arbitrary arrests, denial of fair trials, suppression of freedoms, and restrictions on political and civic participation.
- Socio-Economic and Cultural Rights: Denials of access to healthcare, education, housing, and livelihood resources, as well as infringements on cultural practices.
- Personal Security and Integrity: Enforced disappearances, torture, extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, and abuse of vulnerable groups.
- Humanitarian Concerns: Obstruction of humanitarian aid, attacks on relief workers, and violations of civilian protections under international law.
- Environmental and Property Rights: Forced displacement, destruction of property, and environmental damage impacting communities.
The mission is also focused on documenting the plight of vulnerable populations and addressing humanitarian challenges, including attacks on aid facilities and the denial of basic protections.
Submissions should include detailed descriptions of incidents, evidence such as photographs or videos, and recommendations for addressing violations, including policy reforms, accountability measures, and reparations for victims.
The initiative underscores the AU’s commitment to addressing impunity and ensuring justice for victims of human rights abuses in Sudan, aiming to provide a basis for long-term solutions and reconciliation.