The UN demands justice for the victims of the repression of the coup in Sudan in 2021

Oct. 26 (EUROPA PRESS) –

Independent United Nations Human Rights experts have demanded this Tuesday justice for the victims of the repression of the October 2021 coup in Sudan.

Experts have called for effective accountability in order to “break the cycle of violence” in the African country. To this end, they have called for an independent Justice mechanism with the aim of addressing the human rights violations committed during the protests and providing adequate reparations.

“Prosecuting the perpetrators, including the high-level commanders responsible for these violations, is critical to ensuring Sudan’s sustainable transition to a credible democratic civilian government,” they said in a statement.

The UN team has received evidence over the past year with numerous testimonies about protesters killed, forcibly disappeared, injured, tortured and subjected to sexual and gender-based violence.

Joint security forces reportedly regularly used lethal force, either directly or by shooting indiscriminately at protesters. The illegal tactics had left at least 117 protesters dead and an estimated 7,700 protesters, including thousands of children, seriously injured, according to cases documented by Sudanese health professionals. Most of the injuries were caused by the use of firearms or tear gas.

In addition, hundreds of people were detained without due process for exercising their right to peaceful assembly. Among those arrested, numerous cases have suffered torture and ill-treatment in custody, while others were subjected to enforced disappearance.

There are also reports of women who have been victims of gender-based violence, including gang rape and abuse.

All these human rights violations were committed under emergency measures in which the authorities granted expanded powers and immunity from prosecution to the security forces, says the letter from the investigation team.

“If these atrocities are not addressed, if the victims are once again denied justice and reparations, and if the voices of protesters are not heard, Sudan’s cycle of political turmoil and brutal repression will continue, and the crisis humanitarian will deepen,” they added.

In this regard, experts have called for “an independent, effective and adequately resourced accountability mechanism that is victim-centered.” Meanwhile, they have urged that “serious measures” be taken to conclude the investigations allegedly underway by the national commission.

“The Sudanese authorities have an obligation to end impunity and provide reparation to the victims and their families,” the experts reiterated, who have urged that compliance with these measures be “essential for the ongoing political talks and the process country’s transition.