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Visit of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to Sudan
30 April to 6 May 2006
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour visited Sudan from 30 April to 6 May. During the visit, the High Commissioner traveled to Darfur and to South Sudan where she had the opportunity to meet with local women's groups, community leaders, and local authorities. While in Darfur, the High Commissioner visited Manawashi where thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) have gathered recently and Ardamata IDP camp in El Geneina. In Khartoum, the High Commissioner met with Senior Government and UN officials and members of the diplomatic community in Khartoum.
The High Commissioner speaks to members of the local community in Juba, May 2006
The High Commissioner has visited Sudan twice. The High Commissioner's first visit to Sudan took place in September 2004, when she was accompanied by the Secretary-General's Special Representative on the prevention of genocide, Juan Mendez. During this visit, Louise Arbour and Juan Mendez traveled to Khartoum and to the three Darfur states in order to assess the human rights situation resulting from the conflict in the region. Following the visit in 2004, the High Commissioner issued a report in January 2005 presenting a number of key recommendations which called for, among other matters, measures to end impunity throughout Sudan, to stop attacks against the civilian population and to disarm militias.
Louise Arbour was appointed High Commissioner for Human Rights in July 2004. Before accepting this position, Louise Arbour was a member of the Supreme Court in Canada. Prior to that, she served as the Chief Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda for three years (1996/1998).
The High Commissioner and members of her staff photographed with members of UNMIS Human Rights based in Khartoum, May 2006
Visit of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Sudan
26 February to 6 March 2006
From 26 February to 6 March, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Sudan Sima Samar visited Sudan. Sima Samar visited Sudan for the first time from 15 to 22 October 2005 following her appointment as Special Rapporteur in August 2005. The position of Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Sudan was established for a period of one year by the UN Commission on Human Rights (Resolution no. 2005/82 of 21 August 2005) to monitor the situation of human rights in Sudan. Following the visit in October 2005, Sima Samar presented an oral interim report to the General Assembly and submitted a report to the Commission of Human Rights (E/CN.4/2006/111, 11 January 2006).
During the visit to Sudan in February and March 2006, the Special Rapporteur held meetings with representatives of the Advisory Council for Human Rights and other Government officials. Sima Samar also had the opportunity to meet with civil society organizations, including women's organizations, local journalists and victims of human rights abuses. During her visit, Sima Samar traveled to Juba, in South Sudan, where she met with local authorities and civil society groups.
Special Rapporteurs serve in their personal capacity and are appointed to examine, monitor, advise and publicly report on human rights situations in specific countries or on specific thematic areas. Special Rapporteurs undertake country visits in order to assess the human rights and institutional environment. They present their conclusions and make recommendations on the basis of their findings through public reports.
Sima Samar is the Chairperson of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and has served as the Deputy Chair and Minister of Women's Affairs for the Interim Administration of Afghanistan (December 2001-June 2002). She founded the Shuhada Organization in 1989, a NGO assisting in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan.
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