DOWNLOAD Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Sudan - 231 KB

On 5 June 2011, violence broke out in Southern Kordofan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). In the ensuing days, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Human Rights Component of the United Nations Mission to Sudan (UNMIS Human Rights) received reports of serious violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and illegal detention, enforced disappearances, attacks against civilians, looting of civilian homes and destruction of property.

In light of these reports, UNMIS Human Rights Officers conducted preliminary investigations into a number of serious incidents in South Kordofan. UNMIS Human Rights Officers conducted on-site visits to some affected areas and met with a wide range of actors, including victims and witnesses, state and local authorities, security personnel, political, religious and community leaders. Interviews were also conducted with IDPs in Southern Kordofan, El Obeid and Khartoum, UN personnel, NGOs and media sources.

This report is a summary of the preliminary findings of UNMIS Human Rights of the events in Southern Kordofan covering the period 5 to 30 June 2011. The mandate of UNMIS ended on 9 July 2011 and UNMIS personnel, including human rights staff have since withdrawn from South Kordofan. The collection and verification of information on alleged human rights abuses in this report was conducted during a period of active conflict and subject to restrictions including movement of staff to areas under the control of SAF, Sudan People’s Liberation Army – North (SPLA-N), and militia elements. UNMIS Human Rights officers also exercised caution in obtaining interviews from victims and witnesses due to concerns over witness protection and a fear of reprisals.