The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS)

The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS), writes to the Commission to express our concerns and urge you to address the ongoing violations of human rights in Sudan marked by continued impunity. ACJPS is a non-profit, non-governmental organization working to monitor and promote respect for human rights and legal reform in Sudan.

The act of enforced disappearance, a crime against human dignity and a grave violation of human rights, has become a pressing concern in Sudan amidst the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This crisis, which erupted in April 2023, has led to numerous reported cases of enforced disappearances, highlighting the urgent need for international intervention and adherence to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

In this report, ACJPS documents the Forced Prostitution trade in the city of Nyala, South Darfur as a case study of what is going on in Sudan. The report aims to shed light on the situation and provide information about the growing practice as one of the effects of the Sudan war on Women and girls.

The African Center for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) expresses deep concern for the civilians caught in the crossfire between the conflicting parties in Nyala, South Darfur.

The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) echos the demands of the UN Security Council that all parties to the conflict ensure that civilians’ rights in Elfashir are protected including by allowing those wishing to move within and out of Elfashir to safer areas to do so and that the parties allow and facilitate the rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need, including by removing bureaucratic and other impediments.

ACJPS expresses deep concern over the increased targeting of civilians in Kasala by General Intelligence Services (GIS) Officers. We want to echo the residents' voices and demand that the authorities in Kasala hold the perpetrators of these violations accountable and bring them to book. In this release, ACJPS documents several incidents of grave human rights violations commited by GIS officers against civilians in Kasala.

ACJPS is concerned about the safety and well-being of Mr. Alfatih Ali, a humanitarian who was arrested by RSF in Nyala, South Darfur, and remains in detention to date. We call upon the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in South Darfur to guarantee his physical and psychological integrity while in detention.

The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) has compiled the following legal terms and definitions to aid in legal education and raise awareness among victims of enforced disappearance and their families, as well as human rights activists working in this field, particularly in Sudan. These definitions serve as a foundational understanding for those navigating the complex legal landscape surrounding cases of missing and forcibly disappeared persons.

The international community has responded to the Sudan crisis with a range of measures, including humanitarian aid, diplomatic efforts, and investigations into human rights violations. Both the UN and ACHPR in the recent months have been increasingly active in their efforts to address the crisis in Sudan. For example, they have both issued several statements condemning human rights abuses and calling for an end to the violence, they have also established a mechanism to receive and document complaints of human rights violations from victims in Sudan.The United Nations and the African Union (AU) have both established fact-finding missions to investigate the conflict and document human rights abuses.

As Sudan stands on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe, the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) continues to document the devastating effects of ongoing conflict, climate disasters, and systemic neglect on the lives of millions. Our previous reports have shone a light on human rights violations in conflict zones across Sudan, and this latest crisis represents a grim continuation of the suffering faced by vulnerable communities across the country.

The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) Condemns the continued use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. Women and girls have been, and continue to be, subjected to rape and gang rape, abduction and forced marriage. In this release, ACJPS has documented two incidents where two girls were abducted and subjected to sexual slavery in Nyala, South Darfur.

On Wednesday, August 14, 2024, ceasefire talks aimed at resolving the Sudan conflict began in Geneva, Switzerland, under the mediation of the United States, despite the notable absence of the Sudanese government.