JURIST - Paper Chase: UN investigators in Darfur cite continuing human rights abuses

[JURIST] A group of experts presented an interim report [press release] to the United Nations Human Rights Council [official website] on the situation in Darfur Monday, citing continued human rights violations. The report noted that the government of Sudan demonstrated cooperation [press release] during the period under review and has partially implemented some recommendations. Since other recommendations remain without implementation, the group concluded that it was "not in a position to report that a clear impact on the ground has been identified." The group expressed concern about the ongoing serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights and called on the Sudanese government to "address impunity, and to call on all parties to end violence against civilians, especially women, children, internally displaced persons, those with disabilities and humanitarian workers." A report with a detailed description and analysis of the status of the implementation of the group's recommendations in Darfur [JURIST news archive] will be presented in a final report to the Human Rights Council in December 2007. AFP has more.

The investigation by the group of experts was authorized [JURIST report] by a Human Rights Council Resolution in March 2007. In July, The UN Human Rights Committee [official website] urged [DOC text; JURIST report] the Sudanese government to "take all appropriate measures" to guarantee that all state agents, including the military and armed militias, discontinue "widespread and systematic" violations of human rights. Earlier in July, Sudan defended its handling of alleged abuses [JURIST report] in Darfur, saying its judiciary was capable of handling cases of murder, torture, and rape. Sudan has also denied allegations that the government has collaborated with armed militias, and responded to calls from the ICC chief prosecutor for the arrest of Sudanese war crime suspects by saying that the ICC does not have the jurisdiction [JURIST reports] to prosecute alleged war crimes in Darfur because Sudan has not ratified the ICC's Rome Statute [PDF text].

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