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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The United Nations (UN) has appointed Prof. Joy Ezeilo, a legal expert and Professor of Law, as a member of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan.
President of the UN Human Rights Council, Václav Bálek made the announcement in a statement, few days ago.
Prof. Ezeilo will work alongside,
Mohamed Chande Othman of Tanzania and Mona Rishmawi of Jordan/Switzerland on the Mission, with Othman as Chairman of the Mission.
Prof. Joy Ezeilo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Officer of the Order of Niger (OON), is a distinguished Law Professor, the Emeritus Dean of Law at the University of Nigeria and the former United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children (2008-2014).
She is a versatile legal scholar recognised as a leading authority in constitutional and criminal law, law and development, international human rights, especially on the rights of women and children in Africa.
As a member of the Mission, she, alongside other members are expected to investigate and establish the facts, circumstances and root causes of all alleged human rights violations, abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, including those committed against refugees, and related crimes in the context of the ongoing armed conflict that began on 15 April 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, as well as other warring parties.
The Mission which was established for an initial duration of one year, was further requested to collect and analyze evidence in view of any future legal proceedings; to identify, where possible, individuals and entities responsible; and to make recommendations with a view to ending impunity and ensuring accountability and access to justice for victims.
President of the Human Rights Council advised the Mission requested the Fact-Finding Mission to provide an oral update on their findings followed by an interactive dialogue at the Council’s 56th session, in June-July 2024.
It also requested the Mission to present a comprehensive report at the Council’s 57th session, in September-October 2024, and to submit those findings to the UN General Assembly at its 79th session, in October 2024.
