In a significant development, Václav Bálek, President of the Human Rights Council, of the United Nations has named Joy Ezeilo of Nigeria as a key member of the newly established Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan.
Key Points:
- Distinguished Background: Joy Ezeilo, a distinguished Law Professor and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, brings extensive expertise in international human rights, criminal law, comparative constitution, and the rights of women and children in Africa.
- Academic and Advocacy Credentials: Dr. Ezeilo serves as Emeritus Dean of Law at the University of Nigeria, holding visiting professorships at multiple universities. She is also the Founder and Director of Women Aid Collective (WACOL), a Nigerian NGO dedicated to advancing the human rights of women and young people.
- International Recognition: Acknowledged for her outstanding contributions, Ezeilo served as the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons from 2008 to 2014. She has received numerous accolades, including the Nigerian Government’s Officer of the Order of Niger (2006) and a place on the BBC’s 2022 list of 100 women of impact worldwide.
Mission Mandate and Objectives:
- Council Resolution: The Human Rights Council established the Fact-Finding Mission through resolution A/HRC/RES/54/2 in October.
- Scope: The Mission is tasked with investigating alleged human rights violations and abuses, violations of international humanitarian law, and related crimes stemming from the armed conflict that commenced on April 15, 2023, involving the Sudanese Armed Forces, Rapid Support Forces, and other warring parties.
- Duration and Accountability: Initially set for one year, the Mission is mandated to collect and analyze evidence for potential legal proceedings, identify responsible individuals and entities, and make recommendations to end impunity and ensure accountability and access to justice for victims.
- Timeline for Updates: The Council has requested the Mission to provide an oral update and engage in an interactive dialogue during the Council’s fifty-sixth session in June-July 2024. A comprehensive report is expected at the fifty-seventh session in September-October 2024, with findings submitted to the UN General Assembly during its seventy-ninth session in October 2024.
Unpaid, Personal Capacities: Notably, Mission members, including Joy Ezeilo, will serve in their personal capacities, emphasizing their commitment to the mission’s integrity, and will not receive salaries for their crucial work.
