UN independent expert arrives in Sudan

June 15, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The United Nations Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Sudan, Mashood Baderin arrived in Khartoum on Sunday in a ten-day visit which he immediately started by a meeting with the Sudanese justice minister Mohammed Bushara Dousa.

The chairman of the National Consensus Forces (NCF) Farouk Abu-Essa told a local newspaper in statements published on Sunday that the opposition coalition discussed Baderin’s visit noting that they are not satisfied with his performance given the deterioration of human rights situation in Sudan.

Dousa who is also the Chairman of Sudan’s Advisory Council for Human Rights underscored the commitment of Sudan to cooperate with the mechanisms of the United Nations and the Human Rights Council for the promotion and development of human rights in the country and called for assisting Sudan to strengthen this area.

He said during his meeting with Baderin that Khartoum is keen on implementing the UNHRC recommendations and following up on developments and issues that occur from time to time in various areas including South Kordofan and the Blue Nile.

The Sudanese official highlighted the efforts of Sudan in combating human trafficking in terms of legislation and mechanisms, noting that they are in the process of establishing a special prosecution office conforming with international standards to deal with this crime.

Dousa emphasized the consistency and complementing nature of Sudan’s efforts with international institutions in the field of legislation and pointed out that Sudan submits reports to international and domestic forums calling for measuring Sudan’s efforts in the field of human rights through settled benchmarks.

For his part, Baderin said his visit to Sudan in this session will discuss the reality of the human rights situation in Sudan and developments that have occurred during the previous period, especially in Darfur and South Kordofan.

An official at the Human Rights department at the Ministry of Justice Umaymah Mubarak, said that Baderin’s visit is his last to the country before presenting his report to the UNHRC in Geneva.

She explained that the independent expert will visit the states of South Darfur and Blue Nile and meet a number of state officials at the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs, civil society organizations and editors of newspapers and will conclude his visit with a press conference.

(ST)