Independent UN expert says human rights continues to be violated in Sudan

Sudanese Government forces, militias, rebel factions and opposition groups from neighbouring Chad continue to kill in Sudan, particularly in the Darfur region, an independent United Nations rights expert has told the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Sima Samar, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, said discrimination and marginalization of certain groups continued and basic rights such as access to food, shelter, health and education were not guaranteed, according to a press release from the Council.

The right to life continued to be violated, in particular in Darfur. The perpetrators were Government forces, militia and armed groups such as rebel factions and Chadian opposition, while rape and sexual violence against women also continued, again especially in Darfur, she said in a report delivered yesterday.

In response, Omar Dahab Mohamed said Sudan would continue to fully cooperate with Ms. Samar as well as with the numerous other Special Procedures and with all the work of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

However, he said Sudan wondered about the real motivation of one or two States that were using international forums to put pressure on the country to affect negatively its fight against poverty.

Representatives from over 30 countries and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) made statements during the debate before the 47-member Council moved on to discuss the human rights situation in Belarus and a report on the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.

Adrian Severin, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, said that the human rights situation in the country had deteriorated during 2005 and so far this year to such an extent that the elements usually defining a dictatorship could be seen.

Civil and political rights were limited, cultural rights were ignored, and economic and other rights were enhanced to reward for obedience, he said, adding that the Government had refused any cooperation with the Rapporteur and this was not in coherence with the UN Charter.

Responding to the report, Sergei Aleinik said Belarus had repeatedly stated its position of rejecting the mandate of this Special Rapporteur, adding that his findings were a clear attempt to stigmatise and slander the country.

The Special Rapporteur was doing this in a clearly straightforward manner, in the best tradition of notorious cold war propaganda, he added.

Over 30 countries and NGOs also spoke during the debate, before the Council heard a report from Marc Bossuyt, Chairman of the 58th session of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.

Mr. Bossuyt said the Sub-Commission recommended that the Council set up an independent body in the field of human rights, possibly composed of 28 members, to conduct research, generate thematic studies, set standards, promote coherence, technical assistance, and identify existing gaps.

Representatives from over 20 countries and NGOs spoke in the interactive dialogue after the report was delivered.

On Thursday, the Council also began discussing reports relating to gender issues and the status of women.

Rachel Mayanga, Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women, stressed that gender perspectives in the protection and promotion of human rights should be an integral part of all aspects of the Council’s work programme and working methods.

C. M. Gallardo Hernández, Chairperson of the Commission on the Status of Women, said violence against women had received increasing attention as a form of discrimination and a violation of women’s human rights. However issues such as early marriage, female genital mutilation and the vulnerability of girls in armed conflict and in the context of the HIV/AIDS pandemic had not been given sufficient attention.

Representatives from around 40 countries and NGOs spoke during the debate on these reports. This second session of the Council, set up earlier this year to replace the much-criticized Commission on Human Rights, opened on 18 September and will run until 6 October.