Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan
Responding to the human rights and humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing armed conflict in the Sudan, the Human Rights Council on 11 October 2023, through resolution A/HRC/RES/54/2 decided to establish an independent international fact-finding mission for the Sudan to investigate and establish the facts, circumstances and root causes of all alleged human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, including those committed against refugees, and related crimes in the context of the ongoing armed conflict that began on 15 April 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, as well as other warring parties.
The mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission was established for an initial duration of one year. The Human Rights Council requested the Commission to:
- Provide an oral update on its work followed by an interactive dialogue at its fifty-sixth session, in June-July 2024
- Submit a comprehensive report thereon at its fifty-seventh session, in September-October 2024, to be followed by an enhanced interactive dialogue that should include the participation of, inter alia, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, representatives of the African Union and the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide.
- Submit the above report to the General Assembly at its seventy-ninth session, in October 2024.
Mandate
The Fact-Finding Mission’s Mandate, according to resolution A/HRC/RES/54/2:
- To investigate and establish the facts, circumstances and root causes of all alleged human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, including those committed against refugees, and related crimes in the context of the ongoing armed conflict that began on 15 April 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, as well as other warring parties;
- To collect, consolidate and analyse evidence of such violations and abuses, including those affecting women and children, and to systematically record and preserve all information, documentation and evidence, including interviews, witness testimony and forensic material, consistent with international best practices, in view of any future legal proceedings;
- To document and verify relevant information and evidence, including through field engagement, and to cooperate with judicial and other entities, as appropriate;
- To identify, where possible, those individuals and entities responsible for violations or abuses of human rights or violations of international humanitarian law, or other related crimes, in the Sudan, with a view to ensuring that those responsible are held accountable;
- To make recommendations, in particular on accountability measures, all with a view to ending impunity and addressing its root causes, and ensuring accountability, including, as appropriate, individual criminal responsibility, and access to justice for victims;
- To give the Human Rights Council an oral update on its work at its fifty-sixth session, followed by an interactive dialogue, and a comprehensive report thereon at its fifty-seventh session, to be followed by an enhanced interactive dialogue that should include the participation of, inter alia, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, representatives of the African Union and the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide;
- To submit the above report to the General Assembly at its seventy-ninth session;
- To cooperate and share best practice with other international, regional and domestic accountability initiatives, as and when these are established, as appropriate;
- To cooperate and share best practice with other international, regional and domestic accountability initiatives, as and when these are established, as appropriate;
Call for Submissions
The Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan invites individuals, groups and organizations to submit information and documentation relevant to its mandate. The deadline for submission is 31 July 2024.
Members
- Mohamed Chande Othman, chair (Tanzania)
- Joy Ezeilo (Nigeria)
- Mona Rishmawi (Jordan/Switzerland)
Press Releases
President of Human Rights Council appoints members of new investigative mechanism on Sudan
18 December 2023
English
Documentation
Human Rights Council resolution A/HRC/RES/54/2: Responding to the human rights and humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing armed conflict in the Sudan.
Contact
For all queries, or to submit information, please contact:
Email: ffmsudan@un.org