Britain, the US, Germany, and Norway have called on UN Human Rights Council for an emergency session in Geneva Thursday, to deliberate on the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
This is coming following reports of widespread human rights abuses, including attacks on civilians, sexual violence and the raiding of hospitals.
Aid agencies have suspended work over safety concerns as over 700,000 persons have been displaced from their homes.
Sudan and several other African countries are reported to be reluctant about the meeting being held, fearing it could threaten current consultations for ceasefire.
In his reaction, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa Tigere Chagutah said:
“Amnesty International welcomes the special session on Sudan and urges the Council to address this human rights crisis in a manner that is responsive to the current and urgent needs of people in Sudan.
“We reiterate our call, made together with more than 90 other organizations, for Council members to establish an investigative mechanism to monitor, collect and preserve evidence, and report serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law that have occurred, and continue to occur, during this conflict. This investigative mechanism should be able to identify perpetrators and make recommendations to ensure accountability, justice, and reparations for victims.”
The parties to the crisis continue to deploy heavy weapons, including artillery and tanks, as well as aerial bombardments, in densely populated areas in Khartoum.
Civilians in the capital and in other locations, including Darfur, are bearing the impact of the clashes, with millions stuck in their homes.