The Global Survivors Fund (GSF) welcomes the adoption by the Human Rights Council of Resolution A/HRC/63/L.26 on responding to the human rights and humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing armed conflict in Sudan.
For the first time, states officially recognised ‘the importance of evidence preservation for the purposes of accountability, including future remedies and reparations’, underscoring the importance of preserving pathways to justice and reparation for victims.
Esther Dingemans, Executive Director at GSF, said: “This is a clear call for thorough documentation of sexual and gender-based violence, which is perpetrated in a widespread and systemic manner in the Sudanese conflict. Such efforts must go beyond merely recording violations, but include the identification of victims and the harms they have suffered. Over time, this can contribute to the establishment of a victims’ registry that will enable access to urgent forms of reparation and eventually to the establishment of a national reparation programme.”
The resolution underscores the finding of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission for the Sudan, that acts of sexual violence constitute crimes against humanity, war crimes and indicate hallmarks of genocide. It calls for timely access to survivor-centred protection and support services for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
GSF stands ready to work with Sudanese survivors and civil society to ensure that documentation efforts today lay the foundations for reparations tomorrow.