UN Security Council Votes Today on UK Draft Resolution on Sudan
Sudan Events – Agencies
The UK has presented a draft resolution regarding Sudan, based on the Jeddah Declaration, for a vote at the UN Security Council today, Monday, November 18.
Draft Resolution
Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Draft Resolution
The Security Council,
Reaffirming all its previous resolutions, presidential statements, and press statements concerning the situation in Sudan, and reiterating its strong commitment to Sudan’s sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity,
Expressing concern and condemnation of reports of human rights violations, abuses, and breaches of international humanitarian law, as referenced in the Secretary-General’s report on recommendations for protecting civilians in Sudan (S/2024/759),
Condemning attacks against civilians, as well as reports of armed violence, atrocities, ethnically motivated killings, sexual and gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence, and the destruction and looting of livelihoods and homes by the Rapid Support Forces in and around Gezira State, El Fasher in North Darfur, Khartoum, and El Geneina in West Darfur,
Expressing concern about all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and other medical and humanitarian facilities, and emphasizing the urgent need to address the increase in verified violations against children, as documented in the Secretary-General’s annual report on Children and Armed Conflict (S/2024/384), urging all parties to end and prevent violations and abuses against children,
Highlighting concern over the dire humanitarian situation in Sudan, including reports of severe food insecurity and its potential spread, and reiterating the obligations of all parties to the conflict to comply with international humanitarian and human rights laws, including ensuring the protection of civilians, humanitarian personnel, and relief supplies,
Welcoming collective efforts, including by the UN, African Union, and key regional and international partners, to pressure parties to fulfill their obligations under international law and to advance a nationwide ceasefire,
Recognizing the importance of creating conditions for a sustainable ceasefire and addressing the immediate impacts of the conflict on civilians, based on the Secretary-General’s recommendations and assessment,
Key Provisions of the Draft Resolution
1. Condemns the ongoing attacks by the Rapid Support Forces in El Fasher and demands an immediate cessation of all attacks on civilians in Darfur, Gezira, Sennar, and other areas of Sudan, urging all parties to halt hostilities and engage in dialogue toward a nationwide ceasefire.
2. Demands that the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces honor their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration to protect civilians, including avoiding harm to civilians, vacating urban centers and homes, refraining from using civilians as human shields, and ensuring the security of essential civilian needs.
3. Calls on all parties to safeguard civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, places of worship, and humanitarian facilities, and to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers, UN personnel, and related facilities.
4. Urges immediate measures to prevent and address conflict-related sexual violence, ensuring it is not used as a weapon of war and improving survivor protection and access to services.
5. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council and other relevant parties, to propose a compliance mechanism for the implementation of the Jeddah Declaration and provide a written update before the next Sudan briefing under Resolution 2715 (2023).
This resolution represents an urgent call to action for de-escalation, civilian protection, and accountability mechanisms to address the ongoing crisis in Sudan.
6. Calls on the parties to the conflict to engage in dialogue in good faith to agree on ceasefires and sustainable humanitarian arrangements, ensuring the safe passage of civilians, adequate delivery of humanitarian aid, and the repair and restoration of civilian infrastructure and essential services. Urges them to restore communication infrastructure and services to enable civilians to access emergency and basic services.
7. Welcomes the ongoing mediation efforts by the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General to Sudan, Mr. Ramadhan Lamamra, aimed at fostering peace and a Sudanese-led, Sudanese-owned political process that reflects the aspirations of the Sudanese people. Encourages the Personal Envoy to continue engaging with the parties to the conflict to contribute to civilian protection and to maintain coordination with the African Union and other key stakeholders to ensure coherence in international efforts regarding Sudan.
8. Calls on all stakeholders to support and enhance the full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation of women at all levels and stages of political dialogue and decision-making, engaging with diverse Sudanese women’s organizations and networks.
9. Encourages the Secretary-General to intensify planning to support the implementation of any agreed ceasefire, including monitoring and verification mechanisms. Further encourages continued engagement with the African Union and parties to the conflict in this regard.
10. Calls on the parties to the conflict to facilitate full, swift, safe, unimpeded, and sustainable humanitarian access across conflict lines and borders into and within Sudan, in accordance with international humanitarian law. This includes ensuring the safety, security, and freedom of movement for all humanitarian workers and the unobstructed delivery of essential goods.
11. Welcomes the agreement of all concerned parties to allow humanitarian air operations in South Kordofan and the Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council’s decision to open additional entry points and keep the Adré border crossing open. Calls on them to maintain this openness and stresses the need for support to ensure humanitarian access through border crossings while humanitarian needs persist. Reiterates its calls for all parties to the conflict to work closely with UN agencies and other humanitarian actors, including local organizations, to ensure aid reaches those in need. Urges the withdrawal of combatants to enable agricultural activities during the planting season, preventing further deterioration of already severe food insecurity.
12. Encourages the international community to urgently provide the necessary support to scale up humanitarian assistance to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Sudan and for those displaced across the region. Encourages Member States to consider providing additional funding and support for local initiatives, community programs, and mutual aid groups, and calls on all parties to the conflict to ensure their protection.
13. Urges concrete steps to ensure accountability for perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses and breaches of international humanitarian law, including through adequate, transparent, independent, and reliable accountability mechanisms, including local ones. Stresses that all investigations into violations and abuses must be conducted independently, transparently, and impartially.
14. Calls on all Member States to refrain from external interventions that fuel conflict and instability, and instead to support mediation efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace. Reminds all parties to the conflict and Member States facilitating the transfer of arms and military materials to Darfur of their obligations to comply with the arms embargo measures outlined in paragraphs 7 and 8 of Security Council Resolution 1556 (2004). Reaffirms that those violating the arms embargo may be subjected to targeted measures as per paragraph 3(c) of Security Council Resolution 1591 (2005).
15. Encourages international cooperation, where appropriate, to assist in preventing violations of the arms embargo outlined in paragraphs 7 and 8 of Security Council Resolution 1556 (2004).
16. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.
