44th session of the Human Rights Council - Item 10 – Enhanced interactive dialogue on the oral reports of the Government of the Sudan and OHCHR (HRC res. 42/35)
Nordic Statement, delivered by Ambassador Hans Brattskar, Permanent Representative of Norway
Mdm. President,
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and my own country Norway. [We thank the Independent Expert for his update].
The 2019 revolution was a watershed. Since then, Sudan has taken commendable steps to promote and protect human rights, such as criminalising female genital mutilation and revoking other laws violating human rights. We welcome positive developments holding those responsible for past and recent crimes accountable, including in cooperation with the ICC.
We actively support the opening of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights with sub-offices throughout the country. We call for the establishment of all the institutions and governance structures embedded in the Constitutional Declaration, as well as the harmonisation of national law to ensure adherence to all human rights treaties to which Sudan is a state party.
We remain concerned by reports of continuing violence against civilians, particularly women and children, especially in the conflict zones of Jebel Marra. We call on the Government and the rebel movements to ensure the protection of all civilians with a special attention to those in the most vulnerable situations. We count on all UN entities, [including UNITAMS, the future UN mission in Sudan,] to integrate the protection of human rights [throughout their activities].
To break with Sudan’s authoritarian past and continue on the path to democracy, all human rights must be ensured for all, including human rights defenders, journalists and political opponents. Public debate, not arrests and detention, is indispensable for human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and must therefore be the way forward.
[How can technical assistance to Sudan be designed and implemented in order to improve the protection of civilians?]
Thank you.