Overview 111th Session – Sudan
The Human Rights Committee raised several human rights issues during the review of Sudan, such as the maintenance of death penalty for crimes which do not meet the threshold of the “most serious crimes” as well as in relation to practices that the Covenant does not allow to be criminalised at all. The Committee also addressed the prevailing impunity for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and the absence of action from the Sudanese government to ensure humanitarian access to conflict areas.
Committee members urged the State party to take action regarding gender inequality, violence against women and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). In particular, it was recalled that marital rape is not currently punishable under Sudanese law.
In response to the questions of the Committee, the government argued that the use of torture, the application of Sharia in violation of the ICCPR in some provinces of the country, and its particular interpretation of the notion of “serious crime” are opportune political choices and are the expression of regional and cultural particularities. The Committee expressed disappointment by the responses of the State delegation to the allegations.
Furthermore, several Committee members expressed concern over the status and treatment of refugees, internally displaced persons and asylum seekers, the non-respect of the principle of “non-refoulement” (especially in the case of Eritrean immigrants), and the actions taken by the government to prevent mass displacements.
In his concluding remarks, the Chair termed the dialogue as “frustrating”, due to the absence of goodwill of the Sudanese delegation to take note and to accept the recommendations and analyses of the members of the Human Rights Committee.
The Concluding Observations for which the State should provide information on the implementation within one year, concern:
The Fourth Periodic Report on the implementation of the ICCPR in Sudan was reviewed by the Human Rights Committee on the 8th and 9th of July 2014. For a comprehensive overview of the discussion, see the proceedings on the OHCHR website or the webcast of the session.
The next periodic report should be submitted by the State party on 31st July 2017.
