Top UN official urges respect for human rights in Sudan
December 5, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General in Sudan, Volker Perthes has urged the transitional authorities to respect and protect the rights and freedoms of all the citizens, regardless of their ethnic, religious or political background.
The call came as Sudanese stakeholders from the military component and the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) on Monday, signed the Political Framework Agreement which seeks to establish a new transitional period.
“It is particularly encouraging to see that this Framework Agreement stipulates the need to protect women’s social, political and economic rights, and their representation with no less than 40 percent in the national government and legislative. Let me also underscore the decisive role played by the young men and women on the streets all across Sudan,” Volker said at the signing of the agreement in Khartoum.
The top UN official said called on the principles in the document to translate it into action, saying this in deep recognition of the ultimate price which youth in this country have paid in their fight for freedom, peace and justice.
“It is my hope that these young men and women will consider this Agreement as an important first step towards the restoration of civilian rule and the realization of the goals of the December revolution,” he remarked.
Volker also commended the signatories of the Framework Agreement for their courageous steps in reaching necessary and often difficult compromises.
“In particular, I applaud the military’s expressed commitment, last July, to exit the political scene. This commitment has created a new dynamic which is now reflected in the understanding about the transitional institutions,” he stressed.
The Special Representative of the Secretary General further applauded the efforts of the civilian actors to establish broad-based consensus on the envisaged transitional constitutional arrangements and role of the military.
“The framework which you have been signing today would not have been reached without the determined efforts of a number of civil society actors and national figures who have been shuttling between different actors, given their advice, and encouraged compromise,” he said.
Volker stressed that the UN stands with them in their demands for justice and accountability and their freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
In accordance with the framework agreement, the signatories agreed to repeal the 2019 constitutional declaration and to review the decisions issued by the military leaders after the October 25, 2021 coup.
In addition, the deal provides that the Transitional Constitution is the supreme law of the state, ending the supremacy of the Juba Peace Agreement.
The agreement reaffirms the establishment of a single professional army and the merger of Rapid Support Forces, prohibiting the military from conducting investment and commercial business except for the military industry.
(ST)