On 27 February 2025, during the 58th UN Human Rights Council, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, in his statement to the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on Sudan, stressed “the seriousness of the situation in Sudan; the desperate plight of the Sudanese people; and the urgency with which we must act to ease their suffering”. He called for immediate international action to push for a ceasefire, ensure humanitarian access, and enforce the arms embargo to protect civilians. The High Commissioner also warned that the “continued supply of weapons from outside the country – including new and more advanced arms – also poses a serious risk”.
Similarly, a significant number of States have urged an immediate ceasefire, the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid.
On 4 March 2025, The Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience a Non Governmental Organisation with special consultative status, delivered an oral statement during the General Debate on behalf of victims of violence committed by the Rapid Support Forces.
The victims called on all Member States to exert pressure to uphold fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, including the prohibition of targeting civilians and the protection of essential infrastructure. They also stressed the urgent need for States to provide vital aid to victims and support countries hosting Sudanese refugees.
The victims further urged all Member States to engage in constructive dialogue and contribute to peace efforts, emphasising the importance of supporting investigations conducted by the International Criminal Court. The oral statement also called for an immediate end to the supply of weapons and external support, particularly from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), given ‘credible’ allegations from UN experts that the UAE has provided military equipment.
The impact of the conflict on victims, the crimes perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces, and the role of foreign involvement in exacerbating the crisis were further examined during an event at the Geneva Press Club on 5 March 2025. The event, moderated by Kasmira Jefford, Editor-in-Chief of Geneva Solutions, featured several prominent speakers, including Yaslam Al-Tayeb, a former hostage held by the Rapid Support Forces; Ahmed al-Nuaimi, an exiled member of the “UAE94” trial; Matthew Hedges, a British academic; and Dr. David Donat Cattin, Associate Adjunct Professor of International Law at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs and Senior Fellow at the Montreal Institute for Global Security (MIGS).
Thierry Valle, President of CAP Freedom of Conscience, also addressed the audience, stressing that the United Nations Human Rights Council provides an essential platform for highlighting the ongoing crimes in Sudan and recognised the indispensable role of human rights organisations, activists, and journalists in documenting abuses, raising global awareness, and pressuring states to implement effective measures.
Accessible here: https://pressclub.ch/sudan-ravished-by-war-crimes-the-devastating-campaign-of-the-rsf-and-its-foreign-backers/
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First published in this link of The European Times.
