CRES/006/10/2011: Resolution on the Situation of human rights in the Nuba Mountains (South Kordofan State and the Blue Nile State)
We, the participants at the Forum on the participation of NGOs in the 50th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and 24th African Human Rights Book Fair held in Banjul from 19th – 21st October, 2011
Considering the provisions of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, the Charter of the United Nations Organisation as well as those of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other regional and international human rights instruments to which the Sudan is a state party and that as a state party the Sudan is legally bound to fully and effectively implement the provisions of these instruments and respect and promote the human rights and fundamental freedoms set therein without discrimination on any ground;
Deeply concerned at the outbreak of internal war and violence in the Nuba Mountains in Southern Kordofan State as well as in the Blue Nile State;
Outraged with the continuing reports of grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in these two regions including indiscriminate aerial bombardment of civilian targets, destruction of habitat and purposeful displacement of civilian populations, extrajudicial killing and enforced disappearance of members of the indigenous tribes of these regions;
Abhorring the decision of the government of Sudan to prevent international relief organisations and humanitarian workers access to the war-affected populations thus putting the lives of a growing number of civilians in these two areas, especially women and children, at high risk;
We hereby call on the African Commission to:
- To immediately send a fact finding mission to the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan State and to the Blue Nile State and report its findings without delay to the concerned regional institutions.
- Take any additional measures to ensure that the government of Sudan complies with its obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the AU Constitutive Act, the UN Charter and all other regional and international human rights treaties to which Sudan is a state party, and in particular comply with the following:
- Demand that Sudan ceases, with immediate effect, all military activities and attacks against civilians in the Nuba Mountains and in the Blue Nile State and to end the grave violations of human and peoples’ rights in particular the forced displacement of civilians.
- Allow international relief organisations immediate and unconditional access to the Nuba Mountains and to the Blue Nile State in order to provide the necessary humanitarian assistance to the needy civilians in these areas.
Done in Banjul – 21st October, 2011
