The 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council

Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide

Joint Statement on behalf of Ma’onah Association for Human Rights and Immigration and Geneva International Centre for Justice

23 June 2025

By Stefania Plougarli / GICJ 

As the Council knows, the position and mandate of the Special Adviser were founded from the ashes of two genocides. It is the moral and legal responsibility of both the Special Adviser and the international community to act according to the UN Convention to prevent genocide.In addition to the obvious situation in Palestine, Sudan, although forgotten by many, is facing one of the most catastrophic humanitarian crises in history – as well as a genocide in progress.

Since the outbreak of the civil war, more than 150.000 have been killed, 12 million have been displaced and around half of the Sudanese population faces acute hunger. Together with the systematic use of rape and sexual violence as weapons of war, and the destruction of essential services, these acts constitute a comprehensive and coordinated campaign of annihilation targeting certain ethnic groups.

In light of such overwhelming proof of the horrific scale of violence, we remain at a complete loss of understanding. What more evidence must be presented before the international community intervenes to prevent a genocide in Sudan?

Amidst the unfolding genocidal acts in Sudan we call upon the Special Adviser to uphold the duties entrusted to her mandate and to take immediate and appropriate measures to prevent any further violence.If immediate action is not taken to end these atrocities, it will render the historical responsibility and authority of this position meaningless; and we will bear witness to the annihilation of ethnic groups of people in Sudan.

Thank you