Human rights activists launch campaign for freedoms in Sudan

A group of Sudanese human rights activists launched the Sudanese Initiative for Rights and Freedoms, in front of the National Human Rights Commission in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum on Saturday, and handed over a memorandum demanding full enforcement of rights and freedoms.

Human rights activist Najda Mansour said in an interview with Radio Dabanga that the initiative, which was launched yesterday, means the establishment of a new approach to work, dialogue, and build partnerships with actors seeking to build a movement of rights and freedoms in the country.

She stressed that the initiative is based on combating human rights violations committed by the government, based on Article 27 contained in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution and Article 142 of the National Human Rights Commission.

Complaints, violations

The head of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Iman Fathelrahman, reported at a workshop last week that the Commission has daily been receiving a large number of complaints and inquiries from citizens about their rights and how to claim them.

She said the office of complaints and monitoring of the Office of the High Commission is “the bridge or artery connecting the Commission with the public". She pointed out that the workshop is aimed at how to monitor and follow up on human rights".

Earlier this month, Fathelrahman acknowledged that human rights violations by Sudanese security and military forces are creating challenges for the NHRC.

Speaking in an interview with the official Sudan News Agency (SUNA), she said that “the individual violations by some members of the organs of the regime are harmful and are working to defeat the human rights situation…”. She said that “the Sudanese state will be held accountable by its control over its institutions”.

Fathelrahman was reacting to recent comments by the commander of Sudan’s main paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, Lt Gen Mohamed Hamdan (aka Hemeti), denying involvement of RSF militiamen in attacks against the civilian population; specifically accusations of RSF militiamen shaving the heads of youths in Khartoum.

National Association

In October as well, prominent Sudanese lawyer Nabil Adib announced the establishment of the National Association for Those Affected by Violations of the Rights of Free Movement, Free Expression, and Free Press in Khartoum.

In a press conference on October 10, he called on civil society organisations to urgently act to defend human rights and civic freedoms in Sudan, because “the level of human rights violations in Sudan cannot be tolerated any more”.