A comprehensive approach to human rights in the work of the rapid support forces

Today marks the conclusion of the third training course targeting the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces that took place from the 31st of July 2021 to the 5th of August 2021.

Law enforcement officials have a universal obligation to respect and protect every individual's human rights while simultaneously refraining from actions that violate these fundamental rights and freedoms. Hence, they have the positive obligation to actively perform duties that protect human rights such as intervening to protect the security of citizens. Similarly, negative obligations are imposed that require officials to refrain from acting in any manner that violates human rights.

Human rights are basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled and are not subject to compromise. Nevertheless, in order for law enforcement officers to strike a balance between ensuring public security and preserving human rights, legal awareness, as well as a consciousness of human rights culture is required.

Organized by the Geneva Institute for Human Rights, the main objective of the training course is to develop a theoretical framework for understanding the basic human rights values ​​and principles and the protection mechanisms established by the relevant international and national covenants, with the aspiration of enhancing the ability of the Rapid Support Forces to implement behaviors and attitudes that promote human rights.

Moreover, the aim of the course is to spread legal awareness on international and national human rights standards and to identify best practices that support the fight against torture and ill-treatment and the presence of a strong rule of law while members of the Rapid Support Forces carry out their duties.

Within that framework, over the course of 6 days, the training course highlighted a variety of crucial principles and practices, including :

• The duty and basic rights that the RSF members are charged with protecting and identifying;

• Principles and methods of work as enshrined in the Code of Ethical Conduct such as : Integrity, equality, non-discrimination, anti-corruption, accountability, etc.

• The security and privacy of citizens;

• Transitional justice and the strengthening of the democratic system in Sudan;

• Standards and rules of detention, which include conditions of confinement, the human rights of prisoners, as well as freedom from torture and inhumane or degrading treatment, in accordance with national and international frameworks and protection mechanisms.

It is expected that the outputs of this training course will contribute to the drafting of the initial draft of the RSF Code of Conduct founded on a comprehensive approach to human rights.