Sudan: Security Council must assume responsibility

Sudan: Security Council must assume its responsibilities

Country members of the UN Security Council must urgently adopt concrete measures to alleviate the human rights and humanitarian crisis in Darfur, western Sudan.

"Concerns expressed by the Security Council must be urgently turned into concrete action. The victims of human rights violations in Sudan cannot wait any longer."

In spite of the commitments made by the Sudanese government, as outlined in the Joint Communique with the United Nations on 3 July, no significant change has occurred for the civilian population in Darfur.

Given the broad provisions of the UN Charter, especially those requiring member states to cooperate in the promotion and protection of human rights, each one of the country members of the council has not only a moral, but also a legal responsibility, towards those suffering in Sudan.

The organization is urging governments in the Algeria, Angola, Benin, Brazil, Chile, China, France, Germany, Pakistan, Philippines, Romania, Spain, The Russian Federation, UK and US to urgently adopt a resolution on Sudan that:

* condemns the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur;

* creates, without delay, an independent international Commission of Inquiry to determine the extent of the war crimes, crimes against humanity and other violations of international humanitarian law as well as allegations of genocide. The Commission of Inquiry should recommend ways to establish legal accountability of individuals responsible for violations of human rights and humanitarian law. The Commission of Inquiry should also suggest mechanisms for the sustainable return, in conditions of safety and dignity, of the displaced to their villages and make its findings and recommendations public;

* ensures that civilians, including internally displaced persons, are protected in Darfur;

* supports measures to ensure that all those responsible for the human rights abuses are brought to justice;

* imposes a suspension on transfers of military, security and police (MSP) equipment, weaponry, personnel or training to the Sudanese government and all parties to the conflict likely to be used to commit human rights violations in Darfur. This measure must include a strong monitoring mechanism to investigate possible violations of the suspension of arms transfers and report periodically on its findings;

* deploys human rights monitors in sufficient quantity and which are adequately resourced, with a clear mandate to investigate human rights violations in Darfur and monitor the protection of civilians, including those in the internally displaced persons sites, and to make their findings and recommendations public.

Further information on the crisis in Sudan: http://amnesty-news.c.topica.com/maacrI4aa8oLDbb0hPub/

Act now to end the human rights crisis in Darfur: http://amnesty-news.c.topica.com/maacrI4aa8oLEbb0hPub/

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