ACTING RIGHTS CHIEF CONCERNED OVER DETERIORATING SITUATION IN DARFUR REGION OF SUDAN

29 January 2004


The following statement was issued today by United Nations acting High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan:


"The acting High Commissioner for Human Rights is deeply concerned over the deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation in Darfur, western Sudan. Systematic human rights abuses against unarmed civilians have been reported, including against women and children, as well as burning and looting of villages, causing massive internal displacement and an outflow of refugees.

The acting High Commissioner for Human Rights urges all parties to the conflict to stop immediately the violence, respect human rights and international humanitarian law, ensure the safety and personal security of civilians, and grant unhindered humanitarian access in Darfur. The acting High Commissioner is also extremely concerned by reports that militias, such as the Janjaweed and Muraheleen, are heavily involved in the violence and excesses in Darfur. He calls on the Government of Sudan to investigate these atrocities and take immediate measures to stop them and to punish those responsible. The acting High Commissioner invites all parties to agree on the establishment of an independent international commission of inquiry to assess the humanitarian and human rights situation in Darfur.

The acting High Commissioner further calls upon the Government of Sudan to extend an open invitation to the fact-finding and investigative mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights to visit Sudan.

Finally, the acting High Commissioner urges all parties, supported by the international community, to work with determination to resolve the crisis in Darfur, which at present is not included in ongoing peace negotiations, for the attainment of a long-lasting and equitable peace for all Sudan".

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