By Sigrid Lipott, CIVICUS UN Advisor
As the Human Rights Council prepares to judge grave violations in Sudan, some of its own members – responsible for abuses themselves – are evading accountability, hurting the UN body’s credibility, writes Sigrid Lipott, UN adviser to CIVICUS.
As the Rapid Support Forces battle the Sudanese Armed Forces for power in Sudan, they are committing some of the worst human rights atrocities today. These crimes against humanity will be debated on Friday at an emergency UN Human Rights Council meeting – by members who have themselves committed egregious violations. The growing number of states with troubling rights records taking seats on the council in January exposes how shrinking civic space and systemic repression are eroding the UN body’s legitimacy and undermining its ability to uphold human rights standards, protection, justice and accountability.
Particularly alarming are the elections – and re-elections – of governments responsible for intimidation, reprisals, transnational repression and widespread civil society restrictions. Council members are expected to uphold the highest human rights standards, as set out in UN General Assembly Resolution 60/251 – a non-negotiable requirement often ignored.
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