Thank you, Mr. President,

Albania thanks the High Commissioner for presenting the key points of the report regarding the human rights situation in Sudan.

Sudan is currently witnessing a dire humanitarian crisis as a long current conflict continues to rage and has plunged the country into a catastrophic crisis of unprecedented proportions. Seven million Sudanese have been forced from their homes, including more than a million who have fled abroad to neighboring countries.

Albania remains deeply concerned with the deterioration of the human rights situation with both parties to the conflict allegedly committing widespread human rights violations and abuses. These included the targeting of specific groups, deliberate killing of civilians, arbitrary arrests and detentions, conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), sexual slavery, torture, and attacks on media freedom.

This situation has increased ethnically based violence, fuelled intercommunal clashes, and risks degenerating into a full-scale conflict. Especially in Khartoum, Kordofan, and Darfur, racially motivated attacks, by both sides, on civilians, targeting non-Arab communities, have led to forced large-scale displacement.

The more this conflict goes on, the more it becomes clear that there can be no military solution.

We fully support the High Commissioner’s call for an effective, transparent, independent, and impartial investigation into all allegations of violations and abuses of international human rights and the perpetrators must be brought to justice. Breaking the cycle of impunity that gave rise to this conflict and a credible re-start of inclusive talks to restore civilian-led government remain the out most important priorities.

I thank you.