Oral statements delivered during the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council (18 June-12 July 2024)
Item 2: Interactive dialogue on the oral update of the Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan (19 June 2024)
Mr. President, dear Members of the FFM,
We thank you for your update. We also welcome the UN Security Council’s adoption, last week, of an important resolution on Sudan. 14 months on, the armed conflict continues. Since fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their affiliated forces, thousands of people have lost their lives and millions have been displaced. Unspeakable atrocities have been, and are being, committed. They include targeting of civilians, sexual violence, and ethnically motivated attacks.
As this Council meets in Geneva, escalating violence in and around El-Fasher, North Darfur, raises the risk of identity-based mass atrocities and famine. The utmost priority is to protect civilians and to compel the RSF to halt their assault. Those who support the paramilitary group, as well as any party fuelling the war or blocking food relief, must stop.
Mr. President,
In October 2023, the Council’s establishment of a Fact-Finding Mission was a milestone for accountability. Since then, however, the UN’s liquidity crisis has worsened as a record number of states keep failing to pay their membership dues in full. The crisis has had an impact on the FFM, which has faced delays in getting its secretariat staffed.
In light of these developments, 80 NGOs have urged states to adopt a resolution to extend the FFM’s mandate for at least one year and make clear that the Council will remain actively seized of the matter. If this does not happen at HRC56, it must happen at HRC57.
Failing to do so, or changing the Council’s approach (for instance by focusing on technical assistance to wholly inadequate national processes or bodies, like in the infamous 2021 Yemen precedent), would be more than a mistake; it would be an unforgiveable dereliction of duty.
Thank you for your attention.
Link to video recording of the debate / end
Item 2: Interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s annual report (20 June 2024)
Mr. President, Mr. High Commissioner,
We share your concerns about democratic backsliding, attacks on civic space and human rights defenders (HRDs), and attempts to undermine the rules-based multilateral order. We call on states to follow a principled approach that prioritises human rights, addressing all situations of violations based on their merits and objective criteria.
In a new report, we comprehensively analyse Africa-focused resolutions adopted since the Council’s creation, in 2006, namely from its 1st to its 55th session. “Is the Tide Turning?” covers 176 resolutions addressing African countries (28 resolutions adopted by vote and 148 resolutions adopted by consensus). Findings point to geopolitical divisions and disparities between regional groups’ voting record. Beyond sterile accusations of “bias” or narratives of double standards, the situation the Council has reached, with more and more resolutions being put to a vote (including those establishing or extending vital independent mechanisms), does not benefit victims and survivors of violations.
Mr. President, Mr. High Commissioner,
We flag as deserving priority attention:
- Armed conflicts in Africa and their impact on HRDs and civic space; and
- Identification of early warning signs and patterns of violations, in line with HRC resolution 45/31, especially ahead of elections.
Finally, Mr. President, we reiterate the concerns we repeatedly expressed in this room, about human rights violations and abuses committed in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Mali, and Zimbabwe, among others. These situations deserve more attention by UN and African human rights bodies and mechanisms and by the High Commissioner’s Office.
Thank you for your attention.
Link to video recording of the debate / end
Item 2: Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Eritrea (20 June 2024)
Mr. President, Mr. Special Rapporteur,
Concerns over Eritrea’s rights record are widely shared. The recently released Concluding Observations of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) on Eritrea, following the review of the State’s combined 2nd and 3rd Periodic Report, outline a long list of concerns and recommendations. They invalidate narratives of a UN “bias” against Eritrea.
Eritrea remains one of the most serious situations in Africa and in the world, as made clear by Dr. Babiker’s excellent report, which we welcome – including its section on transnational repression. As you write, Dr. Babiker, the “stifling of civic engagement and suppression of critical voices by the Eritrean authorities is not confined to within the country’s borders; it also extends to Eritrean communities worldwide.”
Mr. President,
A group of NGOs call on the Council to adopt a resolution that extends the Special Rapporteur’s mandate and moves beyond a merely “procedural” approach by clearly spelling out and condemning the grave violations committed by Eritrean authorities in a context of widespread impunity.
Eritrea remains among the very few countries that have never received any visit by a special procedure. Authorities have utterly failed to cooperate with the Council and its mechanisms and made a mockery of membership standards and obligations.
Mr. Special Rapporteur,
As 2024 marks ten years since the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Eritrea, and Eritrea is completing its second term as a member of the Council, what can be done to enhance attention to the country’s human rights record and make sure that all accountability options and processes are explored and used?
Thank you for your attention.
Link to video recording of the debate / end