UN rights expert visits Sudan to follow up implementation of his recommendations

GENEVA (9 May 2017) – United Nations Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, Aristide Nononsi, will carry out his fourth mission to the country from 11 to 21 May to continue his engagement with the Sudanese authorities and discuss the implementation of his recommendations.

“I will follow up with the Government of the Sudan on issues of concern that I identified during my mission in February 2017, and  discuss the status of implementation of the recommendations contained in my report of September 2016 to the Human Rights Council,” Mr. Nononsi said.

During his eleven-day mission, the expert will also follow up on the implementation of the recommendations made by other human rights mechanisms, including those from the Universal Periodic Review*.

The Independent Expert will meet with relevant stakeholders, including the Sudanese authorities, civil society actors, academia, community leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, and UN entities in order to ensure that all relevant information is reflected in his next report to the UN Human Rights Council.

Mr. Nononsi, who visits Sudan at the invitation of the Government, will hold meetings in Khartoum and Blue Nile.

On Sunday 21 May at 2:00 pm, the expert will hold a press conference at the United Nations Development Programme Office (UNDP) in Khartoum, to share with the media his preliminary observations on the visit. Access to the press conference is strictly limited to journalists.

The Independent Expert on Sudan will present his findings and recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council in September 2017.

(*) The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all UN Member States by other States, in order to improve the human rights situation in all countries and address human rights violations wherever they occur. While ensuring equal treatment for every country when their human rights situations are assessed, the UPR provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations. The UPR process reminds States of their responsibility to fully respect and implement all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Mr. Aristide Nononsi (Benin) was designated as the new Independent Expert on the human rights situation in the Sudan by the UN Human Rights Council in 2014. Mr. Nononsi has a doctorate in law and is a specialist in international law, human rights and development, with extensive experience in international and African organizations. Mr. Nononsi was executive director of the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA), and worked for the Centre for Development Area Studies at Mc Gill University, the African Development Bank and the International Labour Organization.

The Independent Experts are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms of the Human Rights Council that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

UN Human Rights, Country Page: Sudan 

For more information and press inquiries, please contact:
In Khartoum (during the visit): Mr. Khaled Moualem (+249 (0) 912 100 501 / khaled.moualem@one.un.org) and Mr. Ayman Suliman (+2419 (0) 912 179 766/ suliman37@un.org)
In Geneva (before and after the visit): Mr. Dieudonne Munyinga (+41 22 928 9231 / dmunyinga@ohchr.org) or write to iesudan@ohchr.org

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, OHCHR Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)

Tag and share - Twitter: @UNHumanRights and Facebook: unitednationshumanrights