Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support Sudan in ensuring that the criminal justice system in that country conforms to Article 15 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; whether his Department will monitor the Sudanese authorities’ progress in ensuring evidence obtained by torture and other ill-treatment is excluded from all judicial proceedings in Sudan; and what steps he is taking to sanction those responsible for the torture of civilians in Sudan.

The UK welcomed the good progress on political reforms made in Sudan under Prime Minister Hamdok's government, including the ratification of the UN Convention against Torture. Since the military coup on 25 October 2021, however, these gains have been put at risk. The reports of protestors being subjected to torture and ill-treatment, including as part of judicial proceedings, is extremely troubling. The FCDO have repeatedly condemned the actions of Sudan's security forces against protestors following the coup. We continue to raise this issue with the Sudanese authorities and at international fora, including the UN Human Rights Council and call for all violence against protestors to stop and for those responsible for abuses to be held accountable.