Sudan’s constitution requires cooperation with relief agencies, SHRO
March 5, 2000
The Sudan Government is required by Interim Constitution to promote cooperation with relief agencies and all human rights groups
The Government of Sudan expelled relief agencies and humanitarian organizations from Sudan. The decision failed to appreciate the consistent services relief and humanitarian organizations have been providing for the displaced population in Darfur, especially for a million displaced citizens by government troops and militias, for whom the Government failed to provide basic needs, including food, health, and education since 2003 up to this day.
SHRO-Cairo notes with deep concerns the systematic harassment of civil society groups by the Presidency and the National Security and Intelligence Service, in addition to the Publications and Press Council which exercises harsh censorial powers over journalists and the Press.
Thus curtailed, the Voice of People has been severely suppressed, especially in the camps of displaced people. Regrettably, the President enforced directly other “decisive” measures by which Sudanese human rights groups and civil society associations were outlawed mainly in Khartoum and Darfur. Other organizations, however, are seriously threatened with the President’s “decisive” measures to end all civil society work in Sudan, local or foreign, all together.
The Government’s ongoing crack down on humanitarian activities in the country, which is further aimed to silence the opposition and to inhibit the displaced citizens from expressing their needs freely, without security intimidation or presidential threats, constituted gross violations of the Interim Constitution Bill of Rights, the right to voluntary work, and the freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression.
The Constitution confers on the Government and the presidency clear obligations to achieve “Promotion of international cooperation, especially within the UN family and other international and regional organizations, for the purposes of consolidating universal peace, respect international law and treaty obligations and fostering a just world economic and political order.”
The Sudan Human Rights Organization Cairo asks the Government of Sudan to maintain normal relations with the United Nations agencies and the other regional and national agencies in the service of the national needs of Darfur and the other areas in the country.
The Organization asks the Government to allow all international and/or regional relief agencies, as well as Sudanese civil society groups, to resume humanitarian support activities to the needy populations without interruption, or confiscation of equipments, or censor.
SHRO-Cairo asks the Government to respect the constitutional provisions that clearly guarantee the rights of citizens to the Freedom of Expression and of the Media: “Every citizen shall have the right to the freedom of expression, reception of information, publication, and access to the press without prejudice to order, safety and public morals.”
The Government must immediately release all citizens incarcerated for accusations concerning reception or dissemination of information, or the full enjoyment of the freedoms of thought and expression, whether related to the International Criminal Court (ICC) or addressed to any other societal issues or State affairs.