News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International
AI INDEX: AFR 54/016/2003 1 April 2003
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH and AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Joint press release

(Geneva) Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch today called on the
UN Commission on Human Rights to continue to strengthen its human rights
monitoring presence in Sudan, as the UN Commission on Human Rights in
Geneva debates the human rights situation in "any part of the world".

"The positive changes in Sudan have taken place largely as a result of
international pressure to make meaningful moves to end human rights
abuses," the two international human rights organizations said.

"The UN must not end human rights monitoring now in the midst of the
transition period, especially when the peace protocol signed at Machakos
over eight months ago has not yet materialized in a peace agreement."

There have been many positive changes since the Commission on Human Rights
first appointed a Special Rapporteur to report on the human rights
situation in Sudan 10 years ago, in March 1993. But yet again most of the
recommendations in last year's resolution have not been implemented.

The Special Rapporteur on Sudan's 2003 report states: "in spite of the
commitments made, the overall human rights situation has not improved". The
Special Rapporteur describes how in the area under the control of the
Government of Sudan "the role of the security apparatus as the main entity
responsible for the human rights abuses as well as the impunity enjoyed by
security remains an issue of serious concern".

In the areas controlled by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army
(SPLM/A) the Special Rapporteur said that "virtually no guarantees are set
for the respect of basic rights and fundamental freedoms".

In the government-controlled area arbitrary and prolonged detention of
opponents; torture; unfair summary trials followed by cruel, inhuman or
degrading punishment; and lack of freedom of expression, association and
assembly continue. In the areas under the SPLM/A, the report says, there
are "severe restrictions on freedom of opinion and expression, speech,
assembly and association".

"Over the past 10 years the Special Rapporteur has been an important agent
for change; his regular monitoring visits and public reporting have been a
lifeline for Sudanese human rights activists and victims. We are calling
for his mandate to be renewed," the organizations said.

The human rights violations related to the armed conflict have continued
despite a cease-fire signed in October 2002. One of the positive acts, as a
result of outside pressure, over the past year has been the agreement, in
March 2002, between the Government of Sudan and the SPLM/A not to target
civilians or attack civilian facilities. This has been monitored by the
Civilian Protection Monitoring Team (CPMT), at first composed of US
military, later strengthened by some civilian country experts and others,
based in Khartoum and Rumbek and with the right to unrestricted access to
all parts of the country to investigate reports of killings. The recent
report by the CPMT, found that the government and allied militia had
committed a number of attacks targeting and killing civilians in the oil
rich areas south of Bentiu in January and February 2003.

"Monitoring and public reporting is the one way to end abuses and
impunity," the organizations said. "Now is the time to increase UN human
rights monitoring, not to end it".

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch called on the UN Commission on
Human Rights to pass a resolution on the Sudan which should make clear
recommendations and lay down benchmarks for the respect of human rights and
international humanitarian law. In particular they urged the Commission on
Human Rights to ensure that:
- the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights
in the Sudan is renewed;
- the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Sudan
receives adequate funding so that it can effectively monitor human rights
in the Sudan and extend these activities to areas controlled by the SPLM/A,
including by ensuring adequate representation in the south of the country

A resolution should, among other things, call on the Government of Sudan to:
-issue a standing invitation to the thematic mechanisms of the Commission
on Human Rights to visit the Sudan, in particular the Special Rapporteurs
on torture, violence against women, and freedom of expression;
- the Representative of the Secretary-General on internally displaced persons;
- and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention;
- guarantee freedom of expression, association and assembly, in particular
the right of civil society to comment on questions relating to the peace
process;
- set up an independent commission of inquiry into the human rights
situation in Darfur, whose findings and recommendations should be made
public and implemented;
- address the urgent humanitarian situation of the estimated 4.5 million
internally displaced persons and begin a program of voluntary return with
guarantees for their security;
- end the practice of incommunicado detention of government critics.

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To see Amnesty International's media materials for the 59th Session of the
UN Commission of Human Rights please visit:
http://click.topica.com/maaaXUYaaW29lbb0imPb/

Amnesty International's Urgent Actions mobilize tens of thousands of
supporters worldwide to send urgent letters, faxes and emails on behalf of
those in immediate danger of torture, execution, "disappearance" or other
human rights violations.
Urgent actions on Sudan:
http://click.topica.com/maaaXUYaaW29mbb0imPb/
http://click.topica.com/maaaXUYaaW29nbb0imPb/

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