MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Sudan

15.1.2019 - (2019/2512(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure

Charles Tannock, Karol Karski, Anna Elżbieta Fotyga, Ryszard Czarnecki, Pirkko Ruohonen‑Lerner, Angel Dzhambazki, Jana Žitňanská, Monica Macovei, Raffaele Fitto, Valdemar Tomaševski, Valdemar Tomaševski, Branislav Škripek on behalf of the ECR Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0053/2019

B8‑0053/2019

European Parliament resolution on Sudan

(2019/2512(RSP))

The European Parliament,

-having regard to its previous resolutions on Sudan, in particular those of 6 October 2016, 16 November 2017, 15 March 2018 and 31 May 2018,

 

-having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,

 

-having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966 to which the Republic of Sudan has been a state party since 1986,

 

-having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights,

 

-having regard to the Cotonou Agreement,

 

-having regard to Sudan’s Constitution of 2005,

 

-having regard to its Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) mission to Sudan in December 2017,

 

-having regard to the statement by the EEAS spokesperson on the ongoing protests in Sudan on 24 December 2018,

 

-having regard to the reports of the international human rights organisations on the situation in Sudan,

 

-having regard to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;

 

-having regard to the Universal Periodic review on Sudan of 2016;

 

-having regard to the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index 2018;

 

-having regard to the UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion or Belief of 1981;

 

-having regard to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;

 

-having regard to Rules 135(5) and 123(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

 

A. whereas since 19^th of December 2018 demonstrators have taken to the streets across Sudan to protest price increases, cuts in subsidies on basic commodities and fuel shortages; whereas these protests have spread from towns and villages to the capital Khartoum after the government tripled the cost of a loaf; whereas protesters have also been marching against Sudan's dire economic situation and calling for the President Omar al-Bashir, in power for 29 years, to step down;

 

B. whereas officially at least 19 people have been killed and more than 200 injured in clashes between protesters and Sudanese anti-riot police; whereas by the 1^st of January 2019 international human rights organisations have reported 45 fatalities;

 

C. whereas it is reported that the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security service (NISS) has used live ammunition and other forms of excessive force against unarmed protesters and arbitrarily detained them; whereas a number of opposition leaders, journalists, human rights defenders, university professors and students, including those with severe injuries, remain in detention without charge and without access to visits from family, lawyers or doctors;

 

D. whereas Salih Mahmoud Osman –a human rights lawyer who has promoted the establishment of the rule of law and advocated for legal reform through the National Assembly of Sudan, and received the 2007 Sakharov Prize – was arrested on 8 January 2019 and his family has not been allowed to contact him;

 

E. whereas arrested people face terrible conditions in prison; whereas abuse and torture has been reported;

 

F. whereas, according to the human rights defenders, people from the Darfur region in particular have been harassed and arrested, even if they have not participated in demonstrations;

 

G. whereas the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly are very limited in Sudan; whereas Sudanese authorities have censored newspapers, confiscating print runs and blocked access to the internet and in particular to social media; whereas the harassment of the media in Sudan has intensified with 18 journalists arrested last year while covering opposition protests;

 

H. whereas doctors and journalists have launched a strike in support of the protests; whereas opposition groups are calling for further demonstrations and civil disobedience;

 

I. whereas the next presidential elections in Sudan are scheduled for 2020; whereas according to the constitution of Sudan, President Omar al-Bashir is not permitted to stand again when his present term ends;

 

J. whereas lawmakers in Sudan announced their willingness to amend the constitution in order to extend presidential term limits allowing President Bashir to seek re-election in 2020;

 

K. whereas Sudan is classified as the fourth worst country to be Christian in the 2018 World Watch List prepared by Open Doors International;

 

L. whereas Sudan is ranked 174th out of 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index 2018;

 

1. strongly condemns the excessive use of force by the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) during ongoing popular protests; furthermore calls for an end to end the killings, beating, and arbitrary arrest and detention of peaceful demonstrators;

 

2. expresses its deep concern regarding the wide-ranging powers conferred upon the NISS, whose officers have been accused of harassing and torturing opponents of the Bashir government with impunity;

 

3. urges on the Sudanese authorities to abide by internationally accepted standards in relation to the arrest, detention and prosecution of protestors and those accused of crimes;

 

4. calls the Sudanese authorities to respect due process regarding those arrested and facing charges in the context of the recent protests, and to carry out a full, impartial investigation into all reported abuses;

 

5. demands the immediate release of Sakharov Prize Laureate 2007, Salih Osman;

 

6. expresses its deep concern regarding an ongoing pattern of abuse of human rights in Sudan, in particular a deterioration of the already dire situation in recent weeks; notes a lack of any progress in re-engagement with the international community;

 

7. reminds the Sudanese government that it holds the primary responsibility for the protection and promotion of fundamental human rights in the country; urges the Sudanese government to restore and respect universal human rights and freedoms, in accordance with its international commitments and obligations;

 

8. supports the statement of the EEAS spokesperson from 24 December 2018, in which they called on the Sudanese government to respect the right of people to voice their concerns through peaceful protest, and for the authorities to respond peacefully to their grievances;

 

9. notes that Russian mercenaries have been sighted in Sudan during the recent protests; raising concerns about the potential involvement of the Russian Federation in support of the authoritarian regime in Khartoum;

 

10. calls on the Sudanese authorities to bring its national legislation into line with its international human right commitments; urges reform of the country’s legal system and reiterates that it is imperative that key laws in Sudan, including the 2010 National Security Act and laws regulating the media and civil society, are reviewed and amended in order to uphold freedoms of expression, assembly and association; emphasises that a free, pluralistic, and independent media is crucial for functioning the democratic society;

 

11. calls on the Sudanese authorities to stop imposing online censorship to limit political criticism and restrict access to information;

 

12. calls on Sudan to ratify the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;

 

13. deplores the state-endorsed persecution of Christians in Sudan and the closing and demolition of churches; calls on the Sudanese government to respect the rights to freedom of religion or belief and to ensure worshippers are able to do so free from the fear of persecution or violence;

 

14. underlines the EU’s engagement in providing humanitarian aid and in supporting civil society organisations with technical assistance and capacity building programmes in Sudan; encourages EU and its Members States to continue their efforts in these fields;

15. restates its demands that Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir complies with international law in accordance with the conventions and treaties to which his government is party; further supports the role of the International Criminal Court in pursuing the charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide against him;

16. instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EEAS, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, the parliaments and governments of the Member States, the African Union, and the President and Government of the Republic of Sudan.