Corporate report

Human Rights Priority Country status report: January to June 2016

Updated 8 February 2017

This was published under the 2015 to 2016 Cameron Conservative government

Overall the human rights situation in Sudan has not improved. During the first 6 months of the 2016, the government of Sudan signalled its commitment to the peace process by signing the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) Roadmap Agreement and announcing a four-month cessation of hostilities in the Two Areas (Blue Nile and South Kordofan) in June. The opposition also announced a cessation of hostilities in April. Whilst we welcome these announcements, the human rights situation remains concerning. In March, the UK and Sudan began a strategic dialogue, which will deepen our conversations across a range of issues, including human rights.

The UN Independent Expert on Human Rights, Artiside Nononsi, visited Sudan in April. During his visit, he travelled to South Kordofan and Darfur, in addition to Khartoum. At the end of his visit, the Independent Expert made a statement noting the positive steps that the government had taken, including the signing of the Action Plan for the protection of children from violations in armed conflict and the deployment of police officers, prosecutors and judges in some parts of Darfur. He expressed concern over reports of arbitrary arrests and detentions, allegations of mistreatment, restrictions on journalists, provisions for immunity contained in the National Security Act, and the effect of the conflicts on the civilian population.

Since the beginning of the year, there have been reports of aerial bombardments targeting civilians in Darfur and the Two Areas. In January, an increase in hostilities between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and armed opposition groups around Jebel Marra (Darfur) resulted in the displacement of over 80,000 people, with unconfirmed reports of an additional 127,000 also displaced. We were particularly alarmed at the government’s response to the actions of armed opposition groups in the area and the use of aerial bombardments by the SAF. We raised these concerns with the government and through the UN Security Council, and called on both sides to end the fighting and Abdul Wahid (the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement-Abdul Wahid faction) to end the fighting and commit to peace talks.

Whilst lack of accountability for human rights violations remains a serious concern, we continue to encourage prosecutions for incidents of sexual and gender-based violence in the conflict areas. We continue to press the government to tackle sexual and gender-based violence; over the past year, UK funded projects have provided legal, medical and psychosocial support for over 150 survivors of rape in Darfur.

The humanitarian situation remains critical, with over 5.4 million people in need of humanitarian aid. Restrictions on UNAMID’s (UN Mission in Darfur) ability to monitor the situation in Darfur are concerning, and international humanitarian staff are prevented from accessing large parts of the conflict areas. In January, Tearfund (a humanitarian NGO working in Darfur) was closed down by the government, leading to a joint statement of concern from EU Ambassadors in Khartoum. In May, the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) issued new directives which, if implemented, threaten to further restrict access to monitor the delivery of humanitarian aid. Also in May, the Head of OCHA’s (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) visa was not renewed, which is in effect a de facto expulsion. It remains vital that all sides allow unhindered humanitarian access to civilians in need.

We welcome the government’s signing of an Action Plan for the protection of children from violations in armed conflict in March. It is important to follow this positive step by implementing the plan quickly and fully. In May, there were reports of 6 children being killed in an aerial bombardment of a school in Heiban, South Kordofan. The Troika (UK, US and Norway) released a statement condemning the incident and reminding the government of its responsibilities to protect all its citizens.

Civil society in Sudan continues to operate in a challenging environment. In February and June, the security services raided the offices of civil society organisation TRACKs. In the latest raid eight of its employees were arrested and detained. UK officials were in court to observe the initial hearing on 8 June, and we have raised our concerns around the case with the government of Sudan.

The UN currently ranks Sudan 167th out of 180 in terms of gender inequality and there have been a number of cases of gender-based violence during the reporting period. In March, Human Rights Watch published a report detailing widespread harassment of female human rights defenders by the Sudanese security services. There have also been reports of women being the victims of sexual assault whilst in detention. In June, 15 women were arrested in Khartoum under the Public Order law, for wearing “indecent” clothing. The government of Sudan is working on an action plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. We look to the government to implement this action plan in a way which ensures that the rights of women are fully protected in all areas.

There have been further arrests of Christian Evangelical pastors in 2016, following similar cases last year. Rev. Hassan and Kowa Shamaal remain in detention and a number of pastors still must report to National Intelligence and Security Service daily. Freedom of religion or belief in Sudan continues to be an area of concern for the UK. We have consistently called on the government to ensure all legislation is consistent with the commitment to their citizens in the Interim Constitution of 2005, which enshrines religious freedom.

The continued use of the death penalty remains a concern. On 16 April, 22 former members of the Justice and Equality Movement-Dabajo were sentenced to death.

We remain concerned by the role of the security services. Two students were killed during protests at universities in Khartoum and Kordofan during April. There were reports of excessive use of force by the security services in breaking up the demonstrations. A number of students were arrested during the demonstrations and detained for a number of weeks, with reports of some being mistreated whilst in detention. Other students were suspended or expelled. When some students sought legal advice from a prominent human rights lawyer, the lawyer’s office was raided by the security services and the students arrested, along with two of the lawyer’s employees. The UK Special Representative to Sudan and South Sudan, Matthew Cannell, raised these cases with the government of Sudan during his visit to Khartoum in May. UK officials have expressed concerns on a number of occasions, calling for an independent investigation into the deaths. On 19 June, 6 of the students were released, with a further eight released on 22 June. At least three students remain in detention.

Press and media continue to be restricted. There were 20 confiscations of newspapers in the first six months of 2016 and, in April, Reporters Without Borders ranked Sudan 174 out of 180 in the World Press Freedom Index. In May, the government of Sudan formed a committee to review the Press and Publications Act of 2009. We look forward to an amended act which protects the right to freedom of expression in Sudan. During the first half of 2016, the UK-funded a project which helped journalists highlight key social issues, including in the areas of education and safe water provision.

There were reports that at least 300 Eritreans, including 6 registered asylum seekers, were arrested and forcibly returned to Eritrea in May. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees released a statement expressing concern that the forcible return may amount to refoulement under Sudanese and international law, and called on the government of Sudan to refrain from returning Eritreans to their country of origin.

In May, Sudan underwent its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva. The UK’s recommendations focussed on the protection of human rights in the conflict areas and importance of accountability for violations, as well as the need for reform of the National Security Act of 2010. The government of Sudan is required to review all recommendations, including those made by the UK, in advance of the HRC session in September. Sudan has yet to implement a number of recommendations that it accepted during its previous UPR in 2011, including the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women.