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.

 

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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 1^st to its 55^th 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.

 

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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 2^nd and 3^rd 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.

 

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Item 4: Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Burundi (4 July 2024)

[Statement delivered in French]

Mr. President, Mr. Special Rapporteur,

Thank you for your update. We welcome your visit to Rwanda and its focus on human rights and refugee issues. We encourage other states of the sub-region to accept pending visit requests.

Violations and impunity remain at an alarmingly high level in Burundi. Major human rights organisations continue to report killings, acts of torture, arbitrary arrests, and enfor­ced disappearances affecting mem­bers of the opposition and real or perceived critics of the ruling CNDD-FDD party.

As processes for the 2025 general and 2027 presidential elections have been initiated, and amid re­gio­nal tensions and inflammatory discourses, including at the highest political level, against minorities and independent voices, we raise the alarm over the risk of further violations, in line with the UN Framework of Analysis for Atrocity Crimes, in particular Risk Factor 8 (Triggering Factors).

Mr. President,

We welcome the process leading up to the downgrading, by GANHRI, of Burundi’s national human rights institution, the CNIDH, which does not operate in line with the Paris Principles.

In the meantime, the Burundian govern­ment is back as a Council member. Beyond its complete failure to “uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights” and its refusal to take human rights concerns se­riously, Bu­run­di’s refu­sal to meaning­fully cooperate with UN human rights bodies and mechanisms means it con­tinues to make a mockery of Council membership stan­dards and obligations.

At its 57^th session, the Council should extend the Special Rapporteur’s mandate. It should make clear that membership is not a shield against, but rather comes with an enhanced respon­sibility to accept, scrutiny.

Thank you for your attention.

 

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