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Human Rights Council
Thirty-sixth session
Agenda item 10
The Human Rights Council,
Guided by the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations,
Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other relevant international human rights instruments,
Recalling also General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 and Human Rights Council resolutions 5/1 and 5/2 of 18 June 2007,
Recalling Human Rights Council resolution 33/26 of 30 September 2016,
Emphasizing that States have the primary responsibility for the promotion and protection of all human rights,
Welcoming the new humanitarian policies of the Government of the Sudan which call for rapid and unhindered humanitarian access and further encouraging the government to protect and provide humanitarian assistance to populations in need of it, and encourages the Government of the Sudan to intensify its endeavors to continue its commitment to address humanitarian needs in conflict-affected areas,
1. Welcomes the work of the Independent Expert;
2. Takes note of the report of the Independent Expert submitted to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-sixth session, and of the comments of the Government of the Sudan thereon;
3. Notes with appreciation the cooperation of the Government of the Sudan with the Independent Expert to enable him to fulfil his mandate, and the Government’s stated commitment to continue that cooperation;
4. Requests the Independent Expert to work with all relevant partners to provide technical assistance and capacity-building to relevant Government of the Sudan entities, national agencies, and other stakeholders;
5. Notes with appreciation the outcomes to date of the ongoing national dialogue in the Sudan with a view to achieving sustainable peace, encourages the inclusive participation of all Sudanese stakeholders, and encourages all stakeholders to ensure an environment conducive to an inclusive, transparent and credible dialogue;
6. Encourages the Government to extend the unilateral declaration of cessation of hostilities and calls upon remaining armed groups to declare unconditional cessation of hostilities and negotiate in good faith to achieve a permanent ceasefire;
7. Notes with appreciation the hosting by the Sudan of hundreds of thousands of refugees from neighboring countries and countries in the region and the opening of four humanitarian corridors to provide life-saving interventions to those affected by conflict and famine;
8. Takes note of the continued efforts of the Government of the Sudan to implement the accepted Universal Periodic Review recommendations and further encourages the process to issue a self-assessment report on the human rights situations in the Sudan;
9. Notes several positive developments, such as the recent separation of the Attorney General Office from the Ministry of Justice, appointing on 16 May 2017 a Chairperson of the Sudan National Commission for Human Rights, the presidential pardon for 259 armed rebel movement personnel in Darfur, and the presidential pardon of two pastors who were sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, and also acknowledges the August 29 general amnesty of representatives of civil society and human rights activists and the September 4 release on bail of representatives of civil society;
10. Acknowledges the Independent Expert’s observations in his 27 July 2017 report and urges the Government of the Sudan to ensure the respect of the human rights of all individuals, expresses concern about the incidents of harassment, arbitrary arrest and prolonged detentions, including of students, human rights defenders, and members of civil society organizations, as well as restrictions on the rights to freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly, and the ongoing censorship of media; urges the Government of the Sudan to respect its constitutional and international obligations and commitments and address demolition of places of worship and reports of harassment of religious leaders;
11. Stresses that conducting investigations into alleged human rights abuses and violations by all parties and holding perpetrators accountable needs to be a foremost priority of the Government of the Sudan, and noting the view that bringing all of the government’s agencies and offices in line with the Sudan’s international human rights obligations and commitments can improve the human rights environment in the Sudan;
12. Expresses serious concern about alleged violations or abuses of human rights in conflict zone areas including those involving sexual and gender-based violence and urges parties to protect civilians and resort to peace;
13. Urges Member States, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, relevant United Nations agencies and other stakeholders to support the efforts of the Government of the Sudan in accordance with the present resolution with a view to further improving the human rights situation in the country by responding to the Government’s requests for technical assistance and capacity-building;
14. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner, taking into account the recommendations of the Independent Expert, to provide technical assistance and capacity-building in response to the request from the Government of the Sudan for support on ways to improve the human rights situation in the country and with a view to providing support for the country to fulfill its human rights obligations and commitments;
15. Decides to renew the mandate of the Independent Expert for a period of one year;
16. Requests the Independent Expert to present a report to the Human Rights Council on the implementation of his mandate, including recommendations on technical assistance and capacity-building, for consideration at its thirty-ninth session;
17. Calls upon the Government of the Sudan to continue its full cooperation with the Independent Expert and to continue to permit effective access to visit all areas of the country, and to meet with all relevant actors;
18. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner to provide all necessary financial and human resources support to the Independent Expert for the implementation of the mandate;
19. Acknowledges that the human rights situation in the Sudan informs the Human Rights Council’s establishment, renewal and transition of mandates related to the Sudan, and urges the Government of the Sudan to cooperate with the Independent Expert, Office of the High Commissioner, and other stakeholders with the view that the continued, sustained improvement in the human rights situation in the Sudan contributes to an eventual transition of the mandate from the Independent Expert to another appropriate UN human rights mechanism;
20. Decides to consider this issue under agenda item 10.
