Amnesty calls for UN action
2004-07-14 20:20
London - Human rights watchdog Amnesty International called on Wednesday on the United Nations to urgently intervene in the war-torn region of western Sudan where more than 10 000 people are estimated to have died.
"Concerns expressed by the (UN) Security Council must be urgently turned into concrete action," Amnesty said in a statement released in London. "The victims of human rights violations in Sudan cannot wait any longer."
"In spite of the commitments made by the Sudanese government" outlined in a joint statement with the United Nations on July 3, "no significant change has occurred for the civilian population in Darfur," it said.
Sudan promised at the start of the month to take immediate steps to disarm the state-sponsored Arab militias accused of sparking a humanitarian crisis in the region.
"Given the broad provisions of the UN Charter (on Human Rights), especially those requiring member states to co-operate in the promotion and protection of human rights, each one of the country members of the council has not only a moral, but also a legal responsibility, towards those suffering in Sudan," Amnesty said.
At least 1.2 million people in Darfur have been driven from their homes since the revolt against the Arab-dominated government broke out in February 2003 among indigenous ethnic minorities.