A UN report highlights widespread arbitrary detentions and torture by the RSF and SAF in Sudan. Tens of thousands, including women and children, face inhumane conditions, often without charges. Credible testimonies reveal severe abuse and ethnic discrimination among detainees. The report stresses the need for immediate action to improve human rights protections and calls for international intervention to address these violations.
A recent report from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reveals alarming patterns of arbitrary detention, torture, and ill-treatment by both the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) amidst the ongoing conflict in Sudan. This report highlights the dire conditions faced by tens of thousands of detainees, including women and children, who have been held without charge since the outbreak of hostilities in April 2023.
The report indicates that detainees are subjected to severe human rights violations, including torture and inhumane conditions in their detention facilities, which often violate international human rights standards. UN High Commissioner Volker Türk stated that, “No individual should be deprived of their liberty without due process, nor – under any circumstances whatsoever – subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
Testimonies gathered from former detainees reveal disturbing accounts of torture, overcrowding, and a lack of basic necessities such as food and medical care, which have led to fatalities in custody. Notably, children as young as 14 are reportedly being utilized as guards, and instances of sexual violence against female detainees have been recorded in RSF-controlled facilities.
Ethnic discrimination is prevalent as detainees from specific regions, particularly Darfur and Kordofan, face harsher treatments based on their ethnic backgrounds and perceived ties to opposing factions. Reports also indicate that many detainees remain unaccounted for, increasing concerns about enforced disappearances, as families are left without information about their loved ones’ fates.
While primarily focusing on conditions in Khartoum State, the report delineates similar human rights violations occurring throughout Sudan, encompassing other regions such as Darfur. The UN has documented credible information about the transfer of detainees to various facilities, further complicating efforts to uphold due process and human rights standards.
Turk emphasized the urgency of addressing these violations, urging immediate action from involved parties to halt arbitrary detentions and improve treatment conditions. He called for international engagement to aid in resolving the widespread violations occurring amid the conflict. The entrenchment of impunity for human rights violations poses further challenges, with the report advocating for a concentrated international response to ensure accountability and prevent further abuses.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ report paints a grim picture of the ongoing human rights violations in Sudan, with both the RSF and SAF implicated in arbitrary detentions, torture, and discriminatory treatment of detainees. The continuation of these practices not only undermines human rights but also worsens the humanitarian crisis within the region. Immediate action is called for from both the conflicting parties and the international community to foster accountability, uphold justice, and protect the dignity of all individuals affected by this conflict.
Original Source: www.dabangasudan.org
