UN independent expert on human rights to visit Sudan on Thursday
May 13, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The newly appointed independent expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, Aristide Nononsi, will visit Sudan on Thursday amid demands by Khartoum to lift the US unilateral sanctions imposed on the country since 1997.
During his ten-day mission, Nononsi will visit Khartoum and Darfur. He will meet with government officials, civil society representatives, members of the diplomatic corps and UN agencies.
According to the press release, the UN Independent Expert on Sudan will present his findings and recommendations at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) 30th session in September 2015.
Sudan’s permanent representative at the UNHRC, Rahma al-Obeid, said in press statement following her meeting with Nononsi on Wednesday that the latter would meet with several government officials including the justice minister, foreign ministry state minister besides officials from the Advisory Council for Human Rights (ACHR) and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
According to al-Obeid, the independent UN expert would also meet with civil society organizations and the Bar Association besides officials from the miniseries of health, education and social welfare, saying he will visit North and South Darfur states.
Al-Obeid pointed to the need for providing technical support and capacity building in accordance with agenda item 10 particularly as Sudan is considered a country emerging from conflicts.
She briefed the independent expert on the negative effects of the unilateral sanctions particularly on the weak segments of the society, asking him to discuss the issue during his meetings with the Sudanese officials.
The permanent representative noted the sanctions violate Sudan’s right for development, stressing government’s keenness to cooperate with the independent expert to achieve the common objectives.
Sudan is on the United States list of countries supporting terrorism since 1993 and also subjected to economic sanctions since 1997.
Nononsi, for his part, expressed readiness to cooperate with the Sudanese government, saying he would consider previous recommendations pertaining to the provision of technical support.
He added that he would look for international donors to help offer capacity building and technical support to Sudan, vowing to cooperate with Sudan’s government until presenting his findings and recommendations at the UNHRC 30st session in September 2015.
(ST)