UNMIS – United Nations Mission in Sudan
The UN Security Council, by its resolution 1590 of 24 March 2005, decided to establish UNMIS to support implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed by the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army on 9 January 2005; and to perform certain functions relating to humanitarian assistance, and protection and promotion of human rights.
UNMIS has a special human rights section. It coordinates with the OHCHR in Geneva, with the UNMIS Chief Human Rights Officer (serving as the High Commissioner’s representative in Sudan) and with the Human Rights section of the AU/UN Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) with regard to issues that fall under both missions’ mandates.
The UNMIS human rights section has the following tasks:
- “Assisting the parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in promoting the rule of law, including through an independent judiciary, and protecting the human rights of all Sudanese people through a comprehensive and coordinated strategy aiming to combat impunity and contribute to long-term peace and stability; and assisting the parties to the CPA to develop and consolidate the national legal framework;
- Ensuring an adequate human rights presence, capacity and expertise within UNMIS to carry out human rights promotion, civilian protection and monitoring activities; and
- Contributing towards international efforts to protect and promote human rights in Sudan, as well as coordinating international efforts towards protection of civilians, with particular attention to vulnerable groups, including internally displaced persons, returning refuges, women and children, within UNMIS’ capabilities and in close cooperation with other UN agencies, related organizations and non-governmental organizations.”
The human rights section's activities are investigating, monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation in Sudan, including making recommendations to the Government of National Unity (GoNU) and the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS). In more detail:
- Seeking accountability for serious violations of human rights through documentation and reporting and advocacy with authorities;
- Providing human rights training for the police, prosecutors and judicial authorities;
- Visiting places of detention to assess the legality of detentions, detained persons’ access to justice, and monitoring any alleged ill-treatment and/or torture of detained persons;
- Monitoring the work of rule of law institutions to ensure compliance with international and national human rights laws and standards;
- Providing analysis and recommendations on proposed legislation to ensure it is in line with Sudan’s human rights obligations;
- Providing analysis and recommendations on enabling legislation for the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Southern Sudan Human Rights Commission (SSHRC) as well as building the capacity of these institutions;
- Building the capacity of executive and legislative bodies working on human rights, including in the conduct of investigations and reporting;
- Supporting civil society groups, including the media, and strengthening their capacity in human rights, in particular in monitoring and reporting;
- Conducting awareness-raising activities through radio programmes, public information campaigns, publications, university lectures, and international celebrations such as Human Rights Day and International Women’s Day;
- Mainstreaming human rights within the UN, raising awareness among UN partners on human rights concerns and coordinating action on human rights issues.
You can contact UNMIS via: