Sudan should assist in deployment of Darfur force ‘without delay’: UN rights mission by UN News / AFP 10:17am 13th Mar, 2007   12 March 2007    Sudan should assist in deployment of Darfur force ‘without delay’: UN rights mission. (UN News)    Sudan’s Government should fully cooperate with the immediate deployment of a United Nations-African Union (AU) hybrid force for Darfur and end the targeting of civilians, while all armed rebel movements must also strictly observe human rights laws, the UN Human Rights Council’s high-level mission to the region said in its report published today.    Despite failing to get into Darfur because of visa restrictions, the mission met hundreds of relevant people and reviewed thousands of pages of documents relating to the human rights situation in the troubled region during its month of work from 5 February to 5 March in Geneva, Addis Ababa, N’Djamena, Abeche and the refugee camps of Eastern Chad.    “The situation is characterized by gross and systematic violations of human rights and grave breaches of international humanitarian law. War crimes and crimes against humanity continue across the region,” the mission said in its 35-page report to the Human Rights Council, which begins its fourth session in Geneva today.    “The principal pattern is one of a violent counterinsurgency campaign waged by the Government of the Sudan in concert with Janjaweed /militia, and targeting mostly civilians. Rebel forces are also guilty of serious abuses of human rights and violations of humanitarian law.”    The report says the Sudanese Government “has manifestly failed to protect the population of Darfur from large-scale international crimes, and has itself orchestrated and participated in these crimes.”    Underscoring the “solemn obligation of the international community to exercise its responsibility to protect,” the report details the grim situation in Darfur, highlighting that killing of civilians remains “widespread,” along with the systematic use of rape and sexual violence. It also makes recommendations to the Council itself, the Sudanese Government, the various armed rebel movements and the international community.    “The Government of the Sudan should cooperate fully in the deployment of the proposed UN-AU peacekeeping/protection force without further delay,” the report states. “Sudan should end the targeting of civilians in Darfur, cease all support for Janjaweed/militia forces, and proceed with the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of such forces.”    The mission also called on the Government to remove all obstacles to the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the millions in need in the region. The UN says more than 200,000 people have been killed and at least 2 million others forced to flee their homes since 2003, while in total, some 4 million civilians need assistance to survive in Darfur, which is in the west of Sudan.    The report also calls on all armed rebel movements operating in the region to strictly observe and respect international law, and ensure the free and safe access and movement of humanitarian personnel. It also urges them to “cooperate in good faith” in the pursuit of peace.    In addition, it calls on the Security Council to take “further action” to ensure the protection of civilians in Darfur, including through the deployment of the proposed UN-AU force, while recommending that the Human Rights Council should help set up an independent national rights commission for Sudan “to address the grave situation.”    12.3.2007 (AFP)    The UN Human Rights Council has accused Sudan of orchestrating human rights abuses and war crimes in Darfur.    It has also criticised the international community"s failure to protect civilians.    Sudan"s government has "orchestrated and participated in these crimes," said a report by the Council"s investigative mission to Darfur that was led by Nobel peace laureate and anti-landmines campaigner Jody Williams.    Measures taken by the international community have so far been "inadequate and ineffective" in the face of widespread rape, torture and other abuses, it added.    "The situation is characterised by gross and systematic violations of human rights and grave breaches of international law. War crimes and crimes against humanity continue across the region," the report said.    "Killing of civilians remains widespread, including in large-scale attacks. Rape and sexual violence are widespread and systematic. Torture continues.    "As violations and abuses continue unabated, a climate of impunity prevails," it added.    The Darfur report kicked off a three-week session of the UN"s Human Rights Council, which replaced the largely discredited Human Rights Commission in 2006.    The council, like its predecessor, has been riven by infighting and charges it is overly focused on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.    UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour told the opening session that the council"s purpose is not just to document and expose human rights abuse but to provide redress to victims and hold perpetrators to account.    The UN estimates at least 200,000 people have been killed in Darfur with a further 2.5 million displaced.    Williams and her team were unable to carry out investigations in Darfur itself, as Khartoum refused to grant visas.    The report urged the international community to adopt a "fully unified approach" in addressing Darfur.    Years of conflict have left the region desolate, depopulated and deprived of the institutions and social networks necessary for any future regeneration, it warned.    "War-torn Darfur lacks the most basic essentials for the rule of law, democratic governance, and the progressive realisation of economic and social rights," the report said. It also called for the implementation of measures such as travel bans and the freezing of assets for those identified as rights violators.    Turning to actions on the ground, it demanded that Sudan "end the targeting of civilians in Darfur, cease all support for Janjaweed/militia forces, and proceed with the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of such forces."    "Witnesses, victims and observers we met repeatedly confirmed joint action between government forces and armed militia in assaulting civilian targets in Darfur," the report said. The mission said rebel groups in the region shared some responsibility for the rights abuses, including rape and torture.    Khartoum"s provision of arms to the Arab Janjaweed and other militias is a key factor behind growing tensions between tribal groups and communities, victims and witnesses told members of the mission.    The report also said the UN General Assembly should compile a blacklist of foreign companies that have an "adverse impact" on the human rights situation in Darfur.
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