Rhino: Follow-up – The organization Sudanese Doctors for Human Rights has called for an urgent, independent, impartial, and internationally mandated investigation into the use of chemical weapons in Sudan. In a statement, the organization added, “This is not merely a matter of military conduct, but of human lives, public health, international humanitarian law, and fundamental human rights.”
The organization clarified that it does not seek “to preempt the results of any investigation or attribute responsibility to any party without evidence,” but “the truth must be uncovered through an independent investigation, and those responsible must be held accountable if violations are proven,” and stated that these developments require “an urgent, independent, and evidence-based response, and the investigation must have the necessary authority and resources to carry out its mandate.”
The statement called on the UN Secretary-General and relevant UN bodies to support an independent investigation and ensure that allegations regarding the use of chemical weapons are not disregarded; It also called on the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and its member states to use the appropriate mechanisms under the Convention to establish the facts, assist in preserving evidence, and ensure that Sudan complies with its obligations under the Convention.
The statement read: “Sudanese doctors and other healthcare workers have been at the forefront of documenting the humanitarian impact of this war. Where exposure to chemical agents is suspected, medical professionals may possess some of the most important evidence available, such as clinical observations, patient records, laboratory results, photographs, and accounts of symptoms and treatment. Therefore, doctors must be enabled to fulfill their professional and ethical responsibilities without intimidation, detention, threats, or political interference. No doctor should be punished for documenting what they have witnessed or for treating a victim of a suspected chemical attack. The international community must also provide adequate protection and support to Sudanese health care workers who may serve as witnesses or custodians of evidence.”
