On Monday 19 June 2023, Every Casualty Counts submitted a video statement during the interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner and Designated Expert on Sudan.
Part of the UN Human Rights Council’s 53rd Session, the statement asked about mechanisms to ensure the proper recording of casualties during the current conflict. It encourages the High Commissioner to investigate allegations of any acts or omissions which could prevent the prompt identification and dignified disposal of the deceased.
As of 12 June, the civil society organisation Sudanese American Physicians Association has documented at least 958 civilian deaths and 4,746 injuries to civilians since the outbreak of violence in April 2023. What mechanisms has the High Commissioner established within the OHCHR Sudan country office to document casualties consistently and continuously, and to support independent recording of casualties? Will this information be included within OHCHR’s annual reporting on SDG indicator 16.1.2?
In relation to the thousands of unidentified bodies held in morgues in Khartoum since 2019, and the obstacles to their decent and proper burial, what assessment does the High Commissioner make of state capacity and willingness to record and identify all victims of armed violence and other human rights violations, including enforced disappearance?
ECC encourages the High Commissioner and designated Expert to monitor and document human rights violations and abuses relating to mistreatment of the dead throughout the period covered by this mandate. This should include investigating allegations of any acts or omissions which could prevent the prompt identification and dignified disposal of the deceased.
