The human rights situation in Sudan and the EU strategy
On 11 November 2025, the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI), in joint session with the Subcommittee on Development (DEVE), held a public hearing on the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in Sudan and the European Union’s strategic response. The meeting gathered Members of the European Parliament, representatives of the European Commission, United Nations officials, and civil society experts to assess the scope of the ongoing crisis and explore avenues for EU action.
Since the outbreak of armed conflict in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Sudan has faced one of the gravest humanitarian emergencies in recent history. The war has displaced over 14 million people, triggered widespread food insecurity, and resulted in systematic violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, including deliberate attacks on civilians, sexual and gender-based violence, and ethnic persecution in Darfur and other regions. With the collapse of state institutions and severe restrictions on humanitarian access, the European Parliament convened the hearing to examine the EU’s policy priorities, focusing on protection of civilians, accountability for atrocities, and the urgent need for an effective and well-funded humanitarian response.
Systematic Human Rights Violations and the Need for Civilian Protection
Keynote speaker Salih Mahmoud Osman, Sakharov Prize Laureate, underscored the scale of atrocities committed by RSF forces, noting that many acts have been openly documented through images, videos, and satellite verification. He stressed that the violence amounts to ethnic cleansing driven by control over land and resources, while the SAF has also engaged in indiscriminate shelling and arbitrary detention. Osman emphasised that Sudan remains trapped in a cycle of impunity in which the same actors responsible for crimes twenty years ago continue to commit abuses today.
Speakers consistently highlighted the absence of effective civilian protection. Despite repeated calls from communities for respect for international humanitarian law, humanitarian access, and a cessation of hostilities, no concrete mechanisms have been implemented. Experts underscored that protective structures cannot substitute for a sustained and verifiable ceasefire.
Justice, Accountability, and the Role of International Mechanisms
Mona Rishmawi, member of the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan, addressed the systematic use of starvation, sexual violence, summary executions, and destruction of essential infrastructure. Her assessment concluded that RSF actions constitute crimes against humanity. She recommended establishing a specialised mechanism that works alongside the International Criminal Court, noting that Sudan’s current judicial system cannot adequately address the scope of violations. She emphasised the importance of ongoing documentation efforts to ensure no actor escapes accountability.
Human rights lawyer Mohaned Mustafa El-Nour drew particular attention to the targeting of women, girls, religious minorities, and communities of African descent in Darfur, warning that the situation bears alarming similarities to past episodes of mass violence. He called for pressure on states that fund armed actors through the trade of gold and other commodities and urged the EU to adopt strict trade and arms embargo measures as part of its broader strategy.
Women’s rights activist Salwa Elsadik provided testimony on the targeted nature of sexual and gender based violence, particularly against women of African descent. She stressed that these attacks are systematic and strategic, designed to subjugate and destroy communities. Elsadik called for the designation of RSF as a terrorist militia, condemnation of foreign support for armed groups, and the full inclusion of Sudanese women in reconstruction and peacebuilding efforts.
Humanitarian Emergency and the Need for Scaled Up Support
Eric Perdison, Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa at the World Food Programme, outlined the magnitude of humanitarian need, noting that twenty one million people face severe food insecurity and that the current levels of international funding remain significantly below requirements. He warned that the crisis is likely to spill over into neighbouring countries if immediate action is not taken. He encouraged the EU to match policy commitments with tangible, increased support on the ground.
European Commission Perspective and Parliamentary Recommendations
Maciej Popowski, Director General of DG ECHO, provided an update from his recent mission to Sudan and confirmed that the country represents ECHO’s largest humanitarian operation in Africa. Priorities include food assistance, medical support, access to clean water, and clearance of unexploded ordnance. He underlined the need for immediate, unhindered humanitarian access across conflict areas.
Members of the European Parliament urged the EU to pursue a monitorable ceasefire, ensure safe humanitarian corridors, and address the use of sexual violence as a method of warfare. Several members stressed that the current level of engagement from the international community is inadequate relative to the magnitude of the crisis. Calls were made for a reinforced arms embargo, greater political pressure on external actors fuelling the conflict, and sustained support for accountability mechanisms.
Conclusion
The hearing underscored the urgent need for coordinated international action to address the unfolding catastrophe in Sudan. Speakers emphasised that the European Union has both the responsibility and the capacity to play a leading role in advancing civilian protection, supporting justice and accountability, and scaling up humanitarian assistance. Global Human Rights Defence remains committed to monitoring the situation closely and advocating for a robust and principled EU response that places human rights at the centre of all policy decisions.
