Sudan: Target one to silence a hundred: the
repression of human rights lawyers in Sudan – Publication of a joint report
JOINT PRESS RELEASE – THE OBSERVATORY / ACJPS
SUDAN: Target one to silence a hundred: the
repression of human rights lawyers in Sudan – Publication of a joint report
Geneva-Paris-Kampala, October 31, 2018. Since
the beginning of 2018, more than 20 human rights lawyers have been victim of
arbitrary detention in Sudan. Attacks and intimidation against them aim both at
hindering their work in the denunciation of human rights abuses, and at
dissuading them from providing legal support to victims, including other HRDs.
In a joint report published today, the Observatory for the Protection of Human
Rights Defenders (OMCT-FIDH partnership) and ACJPS analyse the different types
of violations against human rights lawyers in Sudan and their root causes.
Only in the first half of 2018, 23 lawyers have
been victim of arbitrary detention in Sudan, either for their participation in
peaceful protests or for the legal support they provided to other human rights
defenders victim of arbitrary arrest and detention. The joint Observatory and
ACJPS report published today shows how the absolute powers and immunity enjoyed
by the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) allow them to arbitrarily
arrest human rights lawyers, seize their passports and carry out office raids
to intimidate them and their clients. In the absence of effective legal
remedies and judicial scrutiny, all violations against human rights lawyers
remain unpunished.
“The Sudanese authorities must immediately lift the immunity of the NISS
and ensure full accountability for all human rights violations committed
against human rights lawyers in the country” said Mossaad Mohammed Ali, ACJPS
Executive Director. “Only through an effective fight against the widespread
impunity in Sudan can we ensure that the rights of human rights lawyers, and
those of the HRDs assisted by them, are fully respected” added Gerald
Staberock, OMCT Secretary General.
Human rights lawyers are particularly targeted
as they take up the defence of victims of government repression against the
protests that spread in the country in the aftermath of the 2011 Arab
revolutions, and to denounce the austerity measures regularly adopted by the
government over the past seven years. By targeting human rights lawyers, the
Sudanese authorities indirectly deprive all HRDs subject to extrajudicial
killings, judicial harassment and arbitrary detention of their right to legal
assistance.
“As watchdogs of the rights of other human rights defenders in Sudan,
human rights lawyers need to be able to operate in an enabling environment free
from threats against them and their clients. Without this basic guarantee,
violations of lawyers’ rights will continue to impact the whole human rights
community in Sudan” added Sheila Muwanga Nabachwa, FIDH Vice President.
Intimidation and repression against human
rights defenders in Sudan intensified in the past months in reaction to
nation-wide demonstrations that began on January 6, 2018, set off by the
announcement of the 2018 national budget forecast and the lifting of subsidies
and measures. Sudanese authorities have carried out a campaign of massive
arrests and detentions, including against human rights defenders, political
party leaders, journalists, students and other individuals for their
involvement in the protests[1]. The police and the NISS have used excessive
force to disperse and arrest protesters, including tear gas and beatings with
sticks and water hose pipes[2].
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (the Observatory) was created in 1997 by the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and FIDH. The objective of this programme is to intervene to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights defenders. OMCT and FIDH are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society.
Read full report here:sudan_joint_report
For more information, please contact:
OMCT: Marta Gionco: +41 228 09 49 39;
mgi@omct.org
FIDH: Maryna Chebat: +33 6 49 10 83 65 –
mchebat@fidh.org – @MS_Chebat
ACJPS: Mossaad M. Ali +256779584542 – mossaad.ali@acjps.org
- المنظمة العالمية لناهضة التعذيب: مارتا جيونكو، 0041228094939، mgi@omct.org
- الفدرالية الدولية لحقوق الإنسان: أودري كوبري / صامويل هانريو، 0033143552518، presse@fidh.org
- المركز الأفريقي لدراسات العدالة والسلام: مساعد محمد علي، 00256779584542، mossaad.ali@acjps.org