The Sudanese Future Youth Coalition, in partnership with the Sudanese Human Rights Organizations Coalition, unveiled a powerful and unprecedented human rights exhibition titled “Save the Civilians in Sudan” at the United Nations Human Rights Square in Geneva. The exhibition, held from March 20 to 22, coincided with the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
The exhibit featured dozens of coffins draped in the Sudanese flag, arranged in Broken Chair Square, accompanied by haunting images of war victims and signs of destruction. This poignant visual display documented the grave violations and war crimes committed by General al-Burhan’s army (SAF) and its extremist allies against innocent civilians, particularly women and children.
A Visual Representation of the Victims’ Voices
Attracting nearly 100 visitors, including human rights activists, the exhibition presented a chilling portrayal of Sudan’s ongoing crisis. Through photographs, videos, and artistic symbolism, the exhibition illuminated the grim reality faced by the Sudanese population after two years of brutal conflict. The war, according to UN estimates, has claimed the lives of more than 150,000 people and displaced over 12 million, with four million seeking refuge abroad.
The organizers of the exhibition underscored its aim to expose the crimes committed by the SAF and allied groups, to raise awareness globally, and to sound an urgent alarm about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
An Open Symposium Documents Atrocities
On the exhibition’s sidelines, an open symposium was held, bringing together human rights coalition representatives and international experts. The symposium discussed issues including forced displacement, summary executions, torture, rape, and the burning of corpses. It was noted that paramilitary groups aligned with the SAF were responsible for many of these violations.
A statement issued by 90 international organizations condemned the crimes in Wad Medani and called for a thorough international investigation and accountability for those responsible.
An Unprecedented Humanitarian Crisis
Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s Executive Director, referred to Sudan’s crisis as “the largest and most severe humanitarian crisis in the world today” during a UN Security Council meeting on March 13. The country is grappling with outbreaks of cholera, malaria, and dengue fever, compounded by the near-collapse of the health sector after hospitals and medical facilities were targeted by bombings and looting.
The UN Independent Commission of Inquiry reported disturbing instances of sexual violence, much of which was perpetrated by paramilitary forces aligned with the SAF, with little to no accountability for the perpetrators.
The Coordinator of the Future Youth Coalition stated, “In my country, rape is extensively used as a weapon of war, and the world must recognize that thousands of women and children have become victims of acts committed with impunity. This must end immediately.”
Urgent Appeal to the International Community
In closing, the Coalition made a passionate appeal to the international community, calling for Sudan’s crisis to be prioritized by global human rights bodies. They demanded the expansion of the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction to include crimes committed by the SAF and called for international justice for the perpetrators. The Coalition also organized a solidarity vigil at the UN headquarters, where international human rights groups raised slogans urging the opening of humanitarian corridors, the provision of urgent aid, and an end to the targeting of civilians.
This exhibition served as a stark reminder of the ongoing atrocities and the pressing need for global intervention to protect Sudan’s most vulnerable.
