The 62nd Session of the Human Rights Council
15 June - 7 July 2026
Item 1: Urgent debate to address the human rights situation in and around El Obeid, North Kordofan in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Sudan.
Joint Statement on behalf of International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (EAFORD) and Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ)
3 July 2026
Delivered by Patricia Jjuuko /GICJ
Thank you.
We are gravely concerned by the escalating violence and warnings that civilians, including large numbers of internally displaced persons, face the risk of large-scale atrocities amid intensifying hostilities. The situations around El Obeid demands urgent international attention and action. Preventive action must not come after another catastrophe has already unfolded.
EAFORD, together with Geneva International Centre for Justice, call on all parties to the conflict to immediately protect civilians, cease attacks against civilian populations, and fully comply with the obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law.
We further call for:
- An immediate de-escalation of hostilities in and around El Obeid.
- Safe, rapid, and unhindered humanitarian access to affected populations.
- Accountability for all violations and abuses, including through strengthened international monitoring and documentation efforts.
Lastly, but not least, we call on renewed diplomatic engagement aimed at protecting civilians and advancing a sustainable protection solution. The people of Sudan deserve protection, dignity, justice, and peace.
I thank you.
