Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, on Wednesday signed a deal with the Sudan government to open a UN Human Rights Office in Khartoum and field offices in Darfur, Blue Nile, Southern Kordofan and East Sudan, reported UN News.
The agreement was signed by Bachelet and Sudan’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs Asma Mohamed Abdalla, in the presence of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok in New York, where they are attending the UN General Assembly.
“We have witnessed with admiration the persistence of the women, men and youth in Sudan in asserting their human rights,” Bachelet said in a statement on Wednesday. “The road ahead promises to be full of challenges, but we are ready to assist to ensure human rights permeate the transition.”
Sudan’s long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir was overthrown by the army in April following months of mass public protests. In July, the country’s ruling military council and opposition groups signed a power-sharing deal and agreed to share power for three years, and then hold elections for a return to full civilian government, paving way for a peaceful transition of power.
Bachelet said with the agreement, the UN Human Rights Office will offer all its support to make Sudan’s transition a success for the human rights of all Sudanese people.
She added that the Office will seek to support the transition in four main areas such as combatting inequality, legal and institutional reform, transitional justice, and strengthening the opening of democratic and civic space.
Sudan is being ruled under a power-sharing deal between Sudan’s Transitional Military Council and the opposition Forces for Freedom and Change coalition.
In related news, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi called out to get Sudan off the US’ list of terrorism sponsor countries during his speech at the UN General Assembly.
He said taking Sudan off the list would help the country recover from its economic problems and reclaim the position it deserves among the international family.
