The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan (UNIFI) announced the start of its work this week and called on the parties to the conflict to end the ongoing armed conflict. The mission stressed the need to commit to the protection of civilians and to ensure accountability for perpetrators of violations and serious crimes.
The mission said in a press statement on Thursday that it had made an initial visit to the Swiss city of Geneva, where it held talks with international officials and civil society organizations. Head of Mission Mohammad Chandi Osman stated that investigations into violations of human rights and international humanitarian law were ongoing. He added:
“Sudanese civil society organizations and others have begun informing us of allegations of serious and ongoing violations. “These allegations underscore the importance of accountability, the need for our investigations, and the urgent need to end the violence immediately.”
The UN Human Rights Council established the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (UNIFF) in October 2023 to investigate all allegations of human rights violations in the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces and other warring parties since 15 April 2023, with the aim of ensuring that those responsible are held accountable for these violations and related crimes.
This conflict has so far killed thousands and displaced millions of people.
Sexual violence and child recruitment prioritized
On 18 December, the Human Rights Council appointed the three members of the mission: Mehmet Chandi Osman, Mona Rishmawi and Joey Ezello.
“Warring parties have international legal obligations to protect civilians from attacks, ensure humanitarian access, and refrain from killing, forced displacement, torture, arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance under any circumstances,” said Rishmawi. “We will carefully verify all allegations we have received and carry out independent and impartial fact-finding operations.”
Ezello said the fact-finding mission would pay particular attention to violations targeting women and children – particularly those related to sexual violence. “Allegations of rape targeting mainly women and girls, and allegations of child recruitment in hostilities are among the priority issues of our investigations.”
Call for cooperation with the Mission
The fact-finding mission called on all parties to cooperate with its investigations and called on individuals, groups and organizations to provide relevant information on human rights violations in Sudan in English or Arabic.
The mission is scheduled to provide an oral update on its preliminary findings to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-sixth session in June-July 2024, followed by a comprehensive report to the fifty-seventh session of the Council in September/October and to the United Nations General Assembly at its seventy-ninth session in October 2024.
