Sudan: To Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (Geneva, Switzerland)

What the report says

Human Rights Watch and other civil society groups are urging members and observers of the UN Human Rights Council to renew the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan for two more years. The appeal, published ahead of the Council’s 63rd session in Geneva, says the mission needs stronger funding and staffing so it can continue investigating alleged violations, preserve evidence, identify suspected perpetrators, and support accountability efforts.

According to the statement reported by AllAfrica, the groups want the next Sudan resolution to keep the mission fully operational and to request a written update on its urgent inquiry into alleged abuses in and around El Obeid. They also call for regular reporting to the Council and the General Assembly, as well as better technical and logistical support from the UN system. The letter argues that longer renewal periods would help the mission plan more effectively and reduce operational strain.

The statement presents the fact-finding mission as a key international mechanism for documenting alleged crimes in Sudan’s ongoing conflict and for supporting possible cases before international or domestic courts. It says the work complements, rather than replaces, reporting by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. In broader context, UN-backed investigative mechanisms are often used when local authorities are seen as unable or unwilling to conduct credible inquiries, especially during active armed conflict.