A blatant disregard for human rights violations against civilians…
SRWN Statement on the occasion of International Human Rights Day 2025
International Human Rights Day, observed annually on December 10, represents a global opportunity to assess adherence to human rights and to measure the extent to which governments respect human dignity. In Sudan, with the escalation of violations since the outbreak of war in April 2023, this day has become a crucial occasion to highlight the collapse of human rights, the deteriorating security situation, and the increasing waves of violence and crimes against civilians.
The Sudan Rights Watch Network affirms that Sudan is currently experiencing a tragic human rights situation, where violations, particularly by warring parties, are being committed in an organized and systematic manner. Extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, forced displacement of citizens, targeting of civilians in conflict zones, and targeting of civilian infrastructure are all clear policies that confirm the absence of any legal protection. This confirms that these violations are not isolated incidents, but rather part of a broader strategy and policy to terrorize the population and force its administration to align with the warring parties, thereby undermining any possibility of peaceful resistance or radical political reform.
The tragedy is exacerbated by the collapse of judicial and legal institutions, which have lost their independence and been transformed into tools of political pressure. Impunity has become the norm, and accountability for crimes against civilians is almost entirely absent. The network views this situation as a dangerous indicator of widespread impunity, which fuels violence, deepens ethnic and regional divisions, and threatens the very fabric of society.
Furthermore, the politicization of humanitarian aid constitutes a weapon of war that continues to threaten the lives of millions of civilians. Targeting food, medicine, and basic services for political or military purposes, and violating international and regional agreements, reflects a complete disregard for humanitarian laws and norms, and transforms civilians into deliberate victims of punitive policies. The Sudan Human Rights Watch Network is deeply concerned about the exploitation of humanitarian needs as a tool of pressure, a blatant violation of all international conventions.
In the area of fundamental freedoms, Sudan is witnessing unprecedented restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Independent media are being suppressed, journalists and activists are being intimidated and harassed, and the banning of peaceful protests, particularly online, has become routine practice. These measures aim to silence any dissenting or resistant voice and prevent civil society from fulfilling its oversight role. The Network believes this repression reflects a systematic strategy to consolidate control and obstructs any genuine democratic transition or political reform in the country, amidst the struggle for power and control of the country by warring factions, exacerbated by the escalating conflict of regional and international interests.
Despite this bleak reality, according to the Sudan Human Rights Watch Network, Sudanese people, especially women, youth, and civil society, continue to struggle for their fundamental rights. Resilience and peaceful civil resistance represent a genuine hope for breaking the cycle of violence and oppression, embodying the will of citizens to reclaim their dignity and freedoms. The network affirms that International Human Rights Day should be a fruitful occasion to highlight these heroes and to urge the international community to provide protection and support against the ongoing machinery of repression.
The Sudan Rights Watch Network calls on the international community to intensify efforts to ensure an end to violations, the protection of civilians, accountability for those responsible for crimes, and the implementation of international human rights law. It also urges the various Sudanese authorities to immediately cease the use of force against citizens and to open channels for genuine and inclusive dialogue, far removed from the language of war, repression, and violence.
The network emphasizes that human rights are not a choice or a luxury, but rather the foundation of a just and civil state. Full respect for all freedoms of every individual is the only guarantee for achieving peace and stability in Sudan. With the continuation of these violations, International Human Rights Day 2025 becomes a stark call for accountability, urgent reform, and genuine transformation. Otherwise, Sudan will remain mired in systematic violence, an oppressed society, and a state incapable of protecting the most basic rights of its citizens.
Sudan Rights Watch Network
December 10, 2025