STATEMENT: EU Presidency Statement - Situation of Human Rights in Sudan

Sumario: November 10, 2004: Statement by Mr. Arjan Hamburger, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UN, on behalf of the European Union. FIFTY-NINTH SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - THIRD COMMITTEE. Item 105 (c) Human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives on the "Situation of human rights in Sudan" (New York)

Introduction to draft Resolution on the "Situation of human rights in the Sudan" A/C.3/59/L.48

Mr. Chairperson,

On behalf of the European Union and all the co-sponsors, I have the honour to introduce under agenda item 105(c) the draft resolution entitled "Situation of Human Rights in the Sudan", contained in document A/C.3/59/L.48. In addition to the co-sponsors listed in the L-document, Japan and Monaco have decided to sponsor the resolution.

Mr. Chairperson,

The EU believes that the situation of human rights in the Sudan merits being addressed by the Third Committee of the General Assembly. The Commission on Human Rights addressed the issue earlier this year and appointed an independent expert who has reported orally to this Committee. Moreover, since the sixtieth session of the CHR there have been many new developments, including visits to Sudan/Darfur by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Independent Expert, the Special Rapporteur on Violence against women and the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions.

The EU welcomes and pays tribute to the leadership role of the African Union in addressing the situation in Darfur. This role is fully reflected in the text of the resolution that is before you.

The European Union remains gravely concerned, however, at widespread human rights and humanitarian law violations and ongoing atrocities in Darfur including indiscriminate attacks on civilians, rape and other forms of sexual violence, forced displacement and disappearances, as well as at human rights violations throughout Sudan. This draft resolution therefore, inter alia, calls upon both the Government of Sudan as well as other parties to the conflict in Darfur to stop the atrocities and co-operate fully with the Mission of the African Union and the Mission of the SRSG in Sudan.

Mr. Chairperson,

We believe that the text before you addresses human rights and humanitarian issues in a comprehensive and balanced manner, while giving due attention to the peace talks in Nairobi and Abuja. Furthermore, we consider that the resolution builds on the relevant resolutions of the Security Council (1556 and 1564).

The European Union is committed to working closely together with all interested delegations, in particular those of the African Union, to get this resolution adopted by the General Assembly. We believe it is important that the international community sends a strong signal that human rights violations cannot be tolerated and that the atrocities in Darfur should be stopped immediately.

The EU accordingly hopes that this resolution will meet with general support.

Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.