Ahead of the conclusion of the 54th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), in which member states will decide whether to establish a human rights monitoring mechanism in Sudan and extend human rights reporting in Russia, Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns, said:
“These decisions of the Human Rights Council on Sudan and Russia, serve as a crucial test for the Council as to whether it can rise above political interests of member states and be fit for purpose. The Council must not allow itself to be shackled by geopolitics.
“Having already failed to table a resolution to renew the accountability mechanism on Ethiopia, the members of the Council cannot again fail in their commitments to protect human rights. They must establish a monitoring mechanism on violations committed by parties to the conflict in Sudan and extend the mandate of the special rapporteur on human rights in Russia.
“Six months since renewed violence in the ongoing conflict in Sudan, thousands have been killed and injured and more than two million displaced. Parties to the conflict have also committed war crimes, including sexual violence and the targeting of communities based on their ethnic identity.
“UNHRC member states should send a clear message that they stand in solidarity with civilians in Sudan and Russia who have suffered horrendous violations amid a culture of impunity, by supporting these resolutions. The perpetrators of war crimes and other human rights violations must be held to account. No state should be exempt from independent scrutiny.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.