Explanation of Vote: L.25, Sudan

The United States is obliged to register its disappointment with the resolution that has been put forward on the human rights situation in Sudan. My Government has, therefore, requested a vote on this resolution, and in that vote, we will abstain. Ample first-hand evidence reveals the tragic nature of the human rights situation in Sudan. Unfortunately, the current resolution presents a misleading and inaccurate description of the Sudanese government's deplorable policies and overall poor human rights record.

Specifically, the resolution fails to condemn the continued practice of slavery in Sudan. Slavery occurs in areas under government control and is practiced by militias allied to the government. The Government of Sudan does not acknowledge the problem of slavery and has not acted aggressively to bring this practice to a halt. The resolution should have stated these facts clearly.

The government's practice of bombing its own civilians is another human rights abuse which must be highlighted. In this regard, we were encouraged that the resolution forthrightly urges the government to cease these attacks. Our aim should be to end all such attacks for there can be no justification for the wanton disregard for the lives of innocent civilians. Reducing the level of such attacks would be a positive step forward, but its total cessation must remain our goal.

The resolution details the senseless attacks against relief installations, from the air and from the ground by both sides to the conflict, which continued this past year. The government regularly denies relief flight access to areas in southern Sudan. These acts have dire humanitarian consequences as the drought worsens and thousands of people are uprooted from their homes in the fighting. The resolution rightly condemns the Government of Sudan and the SPLA for their attacks on relief sites. It does not, however, make clear the urgent need for the government to grant unlimited access to all relief agencies to areas under its control.

Freedom from religious persecution is a universal right; the denial of religious freedom is also one of the causes of the tragic war in Sudan. The Sudanese government must bear responsibility for restoring the trust of its people, based on concrete actions aimed at securing religious freedom for all citizens. The resolution does not adequately reflect the severity of violations of religious freedom in Sudan.

The tragic human rights situation in Sudan requires action -- and the government of Sudan is fully aware of the important steps it must take at this critical juncture. The United States is prepared to work with all parties committed to improving the human rights situation of the people of Sudan.  Thank you.