UN rights office warns of ‘dangerous tipping point’ as abuses surge in Sudan
February 18, 2025
GENEVA (Reuters) – The United Nations human rights office warned on Friday of a “dangerous tipping point” in Sudan as it documented a sharp increase in human rights abuses, including arbitrary detentions, torture and killings.
The office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said in a report that it had recorded at least 100 arbitrary detentions since the October 25 military coup, including of journalists, human rights defenders and political activists.
The report also documented at least 10 cases of torture or ill-treatment of detainees, including beatings, electric shocks and sexual violence. At least nine people have been killed in the crackdown on anti-coup protests, according to the report.
“The situation in Sudan has reached a dangerous tipping point,” said Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. “The military authorities must immediately halt these grave violations and respect the human rights of the Sudanese people.”
The report said that the Sudanese authorities had failed to investigate or prosecute any of the alleged abuses, creating a climate of impunity.
“The lack of accountability for these crimes is fostering a sense of lawlessness and impunity, which is further fueling the violence,” the report said.
The OHCHR called on the Sudanese authorities to release all arbitrarily detained individuals, investigate and prosecute all allegations of human rights violations, and ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable.
The report also called on the international community to take urgent action to prevent further deterioration of the human rights situation in Sudan and to support efforts to promote accountability and justice.
The Sudanese government has denied the allegations of human rights abuses, saying that it is committed to upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of its citizens.
However, the OHCHR report said that the government had failed to provide any evidence to support its claims.
“The Sudanese authorities have repeatedly denied or downplayed the allegations of human rights violations, but the evidence we have gathered paints a very different picture,” Bachelet said. “The international community must not turn a blind eye to these grave abuses.”
UN rights office warns of ‘dangerous tipping point’ as abuses surge in Sudan
The AI has provided us with the news.
I asked Google Gemini the following question.
Peace and Security a new article on 2025-02-18 12:00 titled “UN rights office warns of ‘dangerous tipping point’ as abuses surge in Sudan”. Please write a detailed article on this news item, including any relevant information. Answers should be in English.
39