Sudan is sliding into a “human rights abyss”, UN-appointed experts have said, in a call for an independent investigation into the reported killing of demonstrators and activists.
In their appeal to the Human Rights Council to establish an inquiry, the five experts expressed alarm on Wednesday at deaths and injuries caused by a military raid on protesters in front of army headquarters in Khartoum on 3 June.
Women have been among the first victims of the violence, including sexual abuse, the experts said, adding that dozens of female human rights defenders have been detained arbitrarily, said a report of the UN News.
Some have been released, but several are believed to still be in police custody and in need of medical attention. The development echoes similar concerns over the situation in Sudan by top UN officials including the head of UNICEF, Henrietta Fore.
On Tuesday, she announced that at least 19 children had reportedly been killed in Sudan since a military backlash against protesters began earlier this month.
The UN Children’s Fund has also received reports that “children are being detained, recruited to join the fighting, and sexually abused”, while schools, hospitals and health centres have also been targeted, looted or destroyed.
In recent developments, protest leaders in Sudan have reportedly agreed to end the general strike that brought Khartoum to a standstill this week and are willing to resume power-sharing talks with the ruling military council.
Military leaders have yet to formally confirm their participation.
Sudan sliding into human rights abyss, warn UN experts
