Mr. President,

The Kingdom of the Netherlands aligns itself with the EU statement.

We thank the Special Rapporteur for the update on the human rights situation in Sudan which remains a matter of significant concern to us. 

The Netherlands is horrified by the serious, continuous and large-scale human rights violations perpetrated by various parties, some of which amount to crimes against humanity. To break the circle of violence, accountability is crucial. Therefore, these gross violations must be documented and the evidence preserved so that perpetrators can be held accountable. We call upon the international community to support the Fact Finding Mission, ensuring it is renewed, appropriately staffed and resourced to enable the mission to complete its work in Sudan.

We want to emphasize the extremely vulnerable and alarming situation for women and girls in Sudan. The widespread cases of severe sexual and gender-based violence, used as a weapon of war, is deeply distressing and unacceptable.

Madam deputy High Commissioner,   
How does the commission ensure the integration of sexual and gender-based violence considerations into the investigative framework, and what measures will be taken to ensure that survivors are accepted, protected and supported, while ensuring accountability for perpetrators?

Thank you.