24 October 2012

Sudan: Government confronts Students with Tear Gas, Arrests and Torture

Alkarama condemns the oppressive and violent treatment of Sudanese university students who demonstrated demanding freedom and democracy last June. The security forces used violence that resulted in the deaths of more than ten students , and hundreds of arrests accompanied by torture.

The Sudanese government is continuing its campaign against students. Many breaches of student rights occurred in October, and student sit-ins were forcefully broken up, which has led to numerous injuries and arrests amongst students. In the first 17 day of October alone, Alkarama monitored many transgressions committed by Sudanese authorities in universities. Examples of the breaches of rights and of the violence that the students face follow.

Tear gas against students protesting the rape of their colleague

Activists and students in al-Fashir University organised an open sit-in on 7 October to demand an investigation into the rape of a female student by a member of the regular forces who used his weapon to threaten her. Not only have the authorities not yet have responded to their demands, but the security forces entered the university campus on 10 October and attacked the students. Numerous beatings and tear gas resulted in the injury of numerous students. The attack also resulted in many student arrests.

Arrests and Violence against Darfur students

Students from Darfur protested after the administration of Bakht al-ruda university refused to register them freely, as usual. They organised a sit-in on the university campus. In response, police and security forces came onto the campus and attacked the students, which forced them to move the sit-in to the student residence area, where they were once again attacked with violence, leaving scores of them injured, some seriously.

Tear gas against students seeking educational reform

Police and security forces responded to student sit-ins demanding educational reform in al-Nuhud university in Kordofan with excessive violence. They fired tear gas, aiming canisters directly at the students, which caused numerous serious injuries.

Sudan - HR Instruments

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

ICCPR: Accessed on 18.03.1986
Optional Protocol: No

State report: Due on 31.07.2017 (5th)
Last concluding observations: 22.07.2014

Convention against Torture (CAT)

CAT: Signed on 04.06.1986
Optional Protocol: No
Art. 20 (Confidential inquiry): No
Art. 22 (Individual communications): No

International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance (CED)

No

Universal Periodic Review (UPR)

Last review: 05.2011 (1st cycle)
Next review: 2016 (2nd cycle)

National Human Rights Institution (NHRI)

National Commission for Human Rights of Sudan – Not accredited