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Sudan: Human Rights

Volume 470: debated on Wednesday 23 January 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the reasons for the UN Human Rights Council’s decision on 14 December 2007 to let the mandate of the Group of Experts on Darfur expire; and if he will make a statement. (180721)

The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) renewed and strengthened the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Sudan by consensus on 14 December 2007 by extending it to cover all of Sudan, including Darfur. The Group of Experts for Darfur had been established under a temporary mandate. Its recommendations of 30 March 2007 will now be taken forward by the Special Rapporteur, which is a very positive outcome.

The UK was instrumental in obtaining a strong EU statement on Sudan, which condemned the continued human rights abuses and called on the Government of Sudan to comply with its obligations to the International Criminal Court and the HRC. We take every appropriate opportunity to discuss human rights with the Government of Sudan.