UN renews mandate of human rights expert on Sudan

September 29, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The United Nations’ Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has decided to renew the mandate of the independent expert on the situation of human rights in Sudan despite Khartoum’s lobbying blitz to forestall the move.

Last week, the independent expert on the situation of human rights in Sudan, Mohamed Chande Othman, told the Geneva-based council that Sudan needs to reform its security apparatus and address impunity in conflict zones.

At the conclusion of its session on Thursday, the UNHRC noted with concern the humanitarian situation in Sudan’s border states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, where conflicts armed erupted recently between the country’s army and forces of the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N).

The UNHRC urged the warring sides in the two states to “make every effort to immediately end violence and halt clashes, and to take action to strengthen the respect of the rule of law in these two provinces, and to respect all human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

The council also urged members to respond to Sudan’s requests for technical assistance in the field of human rights.

UNHRC also said it had decided “to renew for a period of one year the mandate of the independent expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan,” requesting him to submit a report to the Council for consideration at its twenty-first session”

Sudan’s ambassador to the UNHRC welcomed the renewal of the expert’s mandate and assured him of the government’s cooperation.

Khartoum routinely express frustration with the renewal of human rights experts’ mandate and has been lobbying extensively to terminate the mandate.

(ST)