February 14, 2024 - Eight
organisations, including the
Observatory, express their
grave concern on the closure closure of the civic space, attacks on
freedom of expression, rising militarisation and continuous disruption
and shutdown of communication that threatens the work and safety of
Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) and Women’s Rights Groups in Sudan.
We
the undersigned groups and organisations would like to express our
grave concern and raise the alarm over ongoing reports about the
closure of the civic space, attacks on freedom of expression, rising
militarisation and continuous disruption and shutdown of communication
that threatens the work and safety of Women Human Rights Defenders
(WHRDs) and Women’s Rights Groups in Sudan.
Shutdown of Communications
On February 7th, 2024, Sudan witnessed a complete communications
shutdown. Reasons behind this shutdown remain unknown in the absence of
official statements from operating companies and the warring parties.
This shutdown followed two days of the extensive interruption of
communications at the end of January 2024. The interruption of
communications and frequent shutdowns have life threatening implications
and put the safety and security of WHRDs at risk. Without access to
communications, WHRDs struggle to document and report on the mounting
atrocities on the ground. The interruption of internet networks has also
impeded women groups’ access to the mobile banking apps that facilitate
money transfers to operate or secure protection for WHRDs at risk. The #KeepItOn
coalition — a global network of over 300 human rights organisations
from 105 countries working to end internet shutdowns — has raised
concerns that “amid the ongoing brutal violence in Sudan, the continued weaponisation of internet shutdowns is a flagrant violation of international law.”
Attack on Wad Madani
Since the attack on Wad Madani, the capital of the central Al Jazirah
state, in mid-December 2023, Women’s Rights groups and WHRDs have lost
the resources collected since the start of the war. Dozens of WHRDs and
Women’s Rights Groups were forcibly displaced for the second time,
driven from the city that had been the humanitarian response hub for
local and international NGOs. As WHRDs were forced to flee again, they
faced enormous challenges searching for safe locations across states and
neighboring countries. Dozens of WHRDs were harassed, detained,
summoned and threatened by both warring parties during the last few
weeks.
Targeting of Activists
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) launched an intensified attack on
human rights defenders, humanitarian workers and volunteers,
journalists, and peace activists in the last few months in the areas
under their control. Aid groups and first responders faced rising
restrictions of movement and supplies.
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continued to arrest civilians, loot both
public and private properties and perpetrate systemic sexual violence
across the areas under their control. WHRDs and Women’s Rights Groups
struggle to operate in these areas as the risks of sexual violence are
growing.
At least five WHRDs and women first responders have been detained,
summoned, harassed or threatened in the last few weeks. The attacks were
reported in areas controlled by both warring parties. Since the war
erupted, four WHRDs have been killed, two of whom were journalists. At
least 11 women health workers were killed as well.
Closure of Civic Space and Restrictions on Freedom of Expression
In January 2024, Sudanese authorities in the relatively safer states
in Northern and Eastern Sudan, including local governors, issued decrees
to dissolve neighborhood resistance committees. These grassroot groups
were mobilizing and organising communities since the emergence of the
protests movement in 2018. The governors of five states also banned
publication of information and imposed heavy penalties on publishing
information on social media or other newspapers regarding the security
situation in their states. Journalists and activists were detained in
three states and two women journalists were summoned and threatened by
local authorities following these decrees. In the Blue Nile state, Red
Sea and other states, meetings and other forms of peaceful civic
activities are either banned or not authorized. Women’s Rights groups
and other NGOs operating in these states are working in hostile and
increasingly challenging environments. Civic space in Sudan is closed,
with an increasing militarisation of the state and local communities.
Rising Militarisation
During the last three months, Sudanese authorities launched a
mobilisation campaign to arm civilians in various states under SAF
control. This campaign’s leaders attacked and threatened activists who
criticized the armament of civilians, including women, girls and boys.
Voices of peace activists are considered treasonous by SAF supporters.
The widespread arms in the hands of civilians has led to unprecedented
threats to women and peace and security, including gender-based violence
(GBV) in the areas outside of the fighting zones.
We the undersigned groups call on:
The warring parties:
- An immediate ceasefire and the prompt
creation of safe corridors for humanitarian aid organisations and
groups, and to guarantee the safety of their operations;
- An immediate restoration of telecommunications across the country;
-
Cease attacks on health facilities, medical supplies, and health
workers, and uphold obligations under international humanitarian law;
The international community:
- States and international human rights,
peace-building and feminist groups and organisations to work together
to create an immediate long-term protection program for WHRDs (and their
families) that addresses relocation needs (in several locations if
needed), provides psychological support for post-traumatic stress caused
by war and conflict, including due to GBV, and equips WHRDs’ with all
the necessary means to continue their work in the defense of human
rights;
- States to provide support for the FFM and other
international mechanisms mandated to document human rights violations in
Sudan, including by ensuring that these entities have the necessary
resources to carry out their work effectively;
- States to support
local initiatives providing humanitarian support to local communities
as well as support services to victims, and to support civil society’s
documentation and reporting efforts so that the evidence obtained can be
used for future judicial proceedings, including for those related to
SGBV crimes.
- The international community to establish a
mechanism for the disclosure of the whereabouts of the disappeared and
the release of detainees, and to urgently address the issue of enforced
disappearances and grave violations in detention centers, including GBV;
- The international community to reinforce and protect medical staff in accordance with international humanitarian law;
-
The Fact Finding Mission (FFM) recently established by the UN Human
Rights Council, to ensure accountability is pursued for GBV crimes
committed by warring parties, to regularly and meaningfully engage with
civil society in this process, and to ensure effective protection of
witnesses and victims;
- All other UN human rights mechanisms,
including UN Special Procedures, to support the FFM’s work and to
investigate GBV as a weapon of war, to call for the release of detainees
and for the disclosure of the whereabouts of the disappeared, and to
demand an investigation into violations in detention, including GBV;
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