September 20, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The human rights situation in Sudan and the newly independent Republic of South Sudan is undermined by curtailment of civil freedoms in the former and localised violence in the latter, the UN Human Rights Council has been told.

Amb. Francis Nazario (left) of South Sudan and Amb. Abdel Rahman Dhirar of Sudan at the Human Rights Council (UN News Center)

Mohamed Chande Othman, the independent expert on the human rights situation in Sudan, told the Geneva-based council on Tuesday that Khartoum needs to reform the way in which its security apparatus behaves towards freedom of expression and political activists while Juba needs to take concrete steps to protect civilians and address impunity in conflict zones.

“The human rights situation in Sudan remains fraught with challenges, particularly the full realization of political and civil rights,” he said, citing concerns over freedom of expression, press censorship and reports of people being held without charge for long periods.

Chande reiterated calls on the government of Sudan to reform the National Security Service, including the current legal framework under which it operates, so that it fully encompasses human rights principles and the rule of law.”

In response, the representative of Sudan and its justice minister, Mohamed Bushara Dosa, noted that his country was going through a post-conflict period and was taking actions to improve the human rights situation.

Speaking about South Sudan, which gained independence in July this year, Chande expressed concerns over the killing of civilians in inter-communal violence, citing the example of last month’s death of 640 civilians in fighting between feuding tribes in Jonglei State.

“These long-standing patterns of localized violence are likely to continue unless the Government of South Sudan takes concrete measures to protect civilians and address the widespread impunity and lack of accountability, the central cause of the conflict,” he warned.

He went on to call on the international community to provide assistance to South Sudan which “has the opportunity to build a democratic and prosperous country founded on the principles of the rule of law and human rights.”

Reacting to his statement, South Sudan’s representative Francis Nazario said that his country needs technical support and capacity building in order to protect human rights and build national institutions.

(ST)