Human Rights Council, 4th Session, Joint Oral Intervention, 22 March 2023

Delivered by the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies

Thank you Mr. President,

The Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences; has reported eloquently on the horrific impact of violence against women in conflict. But as her report was given, and as this debate continues, thousands of women in Darfur face continual threats of sexual violence. This Council must not delay in addressing the suffering of the people in Darfur. The world is watching as the Council takes up this issue. I have the honor to represent civil society organizations from countries and territories from around the world including, Egypt, Thailand, India, Malaysia, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and others. We all welcome the report of the high-level mission on the situation of human rights in Darfur which draws attention to the plight of over 2 million internally displaced persons and the ongoing violence against women. As organizations representing concerned citizens from almost every region, we urge the Council to adopt a strong resolution that takes note of the high-level mission report, and takes action on the recommendations therein. In our view a strong resolution is a small but much needed step towards addressing grave human rights abuses in Darfur and the failure of the government of Sudan to meet its obligation to protect its citizens. Failure to adopt such a resolution will cast serious doubt on the credibility of this Council which must rise above politicization in the name of victims. The citizens of the world demand action now to provide protection to the people of Darfur.

Thank you.

ECOSOC Accredited Signatories:
Al Haq (Occupied Palestinian Territory)
Amnesty International (UK)
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (Thailand)
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (Egypt)
Canadian Council of Churches (Canada)
Center for Women’s Global Leadership (USA)
Conectas Direitos Humanos (Brazil)
Forum Asia (Thailand)
Human Rights Watch (USA)
International Women’s Rights Action Watch, Asia Pacific (Malaysia)
International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (Sri Lanka)
Minority Global Rights Initiative (UK)

Supported By:
Ain o Salish Kendra (Bangladesh)
Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (Bangladesh)
Blue Diamond Society (Nepal)
Center for Minority Rights Development (Kenya)
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (India)
Community Development Association (Sudan)
Democracy Coalition Project (USA)
East and Horn Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (Uganda)
Humanus International (Cameroon)
International Refugee Rights Initiative (USA)
Liberia Coalition of Human Rights Defenders (Liberia)
Open Society Institute (USA)
Suaram (Malysia)
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (Zimbabwe)