Human Rights Council Demands Resolution in Darfur

By Myriam Clerge
Impunity Watch Senior Article Editor

GENEVA, Switzerland – Today, the United Nations’ Human Rights Council issued a proposal to Sudan to resolve its human rights violations and improve its prosecution of those responsible. In a joint report issued by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and UN/AU mission in Darfur last week, the international community acknowledged that Sudan forces deliberately attacked villages in Darfur in the past two months. This resolution condemns Khartoum for these attacks, in which 115 people died and 300,000 were forced from their home.

Relief agencies, like the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), have expressed concerns over the alarming number of attacks by bandits. Humanitarian organizations claim the attacks on personnel and cargo have reached an unprecedented rate. The office of the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, reports that three humanitarian workers and one truck driver have been killed and nearly 90 workers abducted since the beginning of 2008. Furthermore, 29 WFP truck drivers remain unaccounted for after being kidnapped at gunpoint. The agencies warn that the violence is impeding and threatening to disrupt the delivery of food and aid to thousands of desperate people.

The Human Rights Council, a 47-member body, which includes Islamic and African countries, passed the resolution in consensus. The proposal was a compromise between European and African countries. Canada’s representative expressed regret that “the resolution did not reflect the seriousness of the human rights situation in Sudan”, however stated that they would not block its passage and have joined consensus.

Khartoum claims only 9,000 have been killed during the five year civil war, however international reports estimate roughly 200,000 people have died and nearly 2.2 million displaced. With the situation becoming increasingly more violent and relief obstructed, the UN resolution may not address the urgency of the people. Alone, the Canadian representative realizes “[t]he people of Sudan deserve better.”

For more information please see:

Yahoo News (AFP) - UN Human Rights Council Resolves to Pressure Sudan Over Darfur – 27 March 2008

AllAfrica.com – Sudan: Worsening Banditry Threatens Humanitarian Effort in Darfur - 27 March 2008

Reuters: Africa – U.N. Body Calls on Sudan to Tackle Rights Abuses - 27 March 2008