Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Mr President,
New Zealand thanks the Independent Expert and the representatives from Sudan for their updates today. Like others, New Zealand has been deeply concerned by the deterioration of the human rights situation in Sudan after recent civil unrest.
Over the last month the international community witnessed an extremely troubling escalation in violence. This includes reports of lethal and excessive force, such as the use of live ammunition and tear gas by security forces against peaceful protestors. This has resulted in the deaths of more than a hundred protestors, as well as hundreds of injured. Also of deep concern are reports of the use of sexual violence, including to dissuade political participation, and attacks on hospitals.
Mr President, New Zealand welcomes the efforts by both sides to reach a peaceful solution with the establishment of a joint military-civilian sovereign council. Moving forward, we urge all parties to exercise restraint and respect the right to peaceful protest. Importantly, New Zealand also welcomes the council’s agreement to undertake transparent and independent investigations into the recent violence. Sudan needs to send a clear signal that security forces cannot carry out these crimes with impunity.
New Zealand remains concerned by the decision to shut down internet services in Sudan in the wake of civil unrest. Calls for peaceful civil disobedience do not merit the wholesale blocking of internet access. Such services are important for emergency communications, especially in a time of crisis, but are also essential for the enjoyment of a broad range of rights. We urge Sudan to immediately restore internet services and would be interested to hear from the Independent Expert about the implications of the blocking of internet access for their work, as well as its impact on the human rights situation more broadly.
Thank you, Mr President.