The United Nations Human Rights Council has called for swift investigations on the killing of protesters using live ammunition, and allegations of rape during demonstrations that rocked Khartoum on Sunday.

A report released yesterday by the spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Liz Throssell, shows that there were 13 cases of alleged rape or gang rape of women and girls, two protesters shot dead and around 300 others injured.

“We have received deeply disturbing reports of sexual violence and harassment by security forces during demonstrations in Khartoum on Sunday, December 19, 2021. Our Joint Human Rights Office in Sudan has received allegations that 13 women and girls were victims of rape or gang rape,” Liz said.

“We have also received allegations of sexual harassment by security forces against women who were trying to flee the area around the Presidential Palace on Sunday evening.”

The report further showed that the security forces used gas canisters, beat protesters as others were reported to have been facing breathing difficulties as they inhaled tear gas.

“We urge for a prompt, independent and thorough investigation into the allegations of rape and sexual harassment; as well as the allegations of death and injury of protesters as a result of the unnecessary or disproportionate use of force, in particular use of live ammunition,” the report read.

“The perpetrators must be identified and prosecuted. With further protests planned for this weekend and the weeks ahead, security forces must guarantee and protect the right to peaceful assembly and act with full respect for international laws and standards regulating the use of force.”

The council urged the Sudanese Attorney General to form a committee of prosecutors to carry out the investigations of crimes committed since the October 25, 2021, coup.

“We have called on national authorities to make the findings of this investigative committee public, with maximum transparency, to hold to account, including through criminal investigations, those responsible for human rights violations and abuses,” the statement continued.

“We are also deeply concerned at the increase in intercommunal violence in Darfur and South Kordofan. Since September, at least 250 civilians have been killed, 197 injured, and over 50,000 displaced by intercommunal violence. There have been serious protection gaps in Darfur, especially following the reduction of state security forces in key areas in Darfur and long delays in implementation of a National Plan for Civilian Protection.”

They called for the training of 3,000 temporary joint protection forces pending deployment this month on human rights and international humanitarian law.

“It is also essential that those responsible for the human rights violations and abuses committed are held accountable, regardless of their affiliation,” the statement continued.

Demonstrations

On Sunday, hundreds of thousands of protesters protested the coup which took place on October 25 as security forces fired tear gas and stun grenades, according to reports from Aljazeera.

The demonstrations were also to be carried out all over Sudan to mark the third anniversary of the toppling of the government of the former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

The country’s Prime Minister, Abdallah Hamdok, said that the revolution was a drawback that disturbed the quest for unity and stability.

Hiba Morgan who reported for Aljazeera from Khartoum said that tear gas and live ammunition were used against protesters.

 “A majority of them have been forced to retreat following a heavy amount of tear gas that has been fired by security forces,” Hiba said.

 “The military who guard the presidential palace have also used live ammunition, according to protesters who ran away from the southern gates of the presidential palace.”

Committed to probe

Prime Minister Hamdok last month vowed to investigate the brutality of security personnel and the army officers on protesters.

Hamdok inked a deal with the country’s military leader Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan. As a result, Hamdok was reinstated as the Prime Minister as civilian leaders who were detained were released.

Sudan is expected to go on polls in 2023 after the close of the transitional period for democracy to be birthed in the country.