International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan briefs the UN Security Council on the situation in Sudan. Top stories of the day | Monday: UNRWA, Sudan, Iran, Bangladesh UN
Top stories of the day in the UN and around the world: results of the investigation into former UNRWA employees, ICC prosecutor on atrocities in Darfur, repression of minorities in Iran, situation in Bangladesh.
UNRWA investigation
The Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) has completed its investigation of 19 United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) staff members over allegations of their involvement in armed attacks carried out by Hamas on 7 October 2023 in southern Israel. In one case, OIOS did not obtain any evidence to support allegations of a staff member’s involvement, and in nine other cases the evidence obtained was insufficient to substantiate the allegations. In the remaining nine cases, OIOS obtained evidence that UNRWA staff members may have been involved in the armed attacks on 7 October 2023.
Crimes in Darfur
Crimes are being committed en masse in Darfur and across Sudan, with those responsible confident of impunity, International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan said at a Security Council meeting. According to him, the situation has only worsened since the previous Security Council briefing six months ago. In particular, Khan expressed his particular concern about violations against children, as well as widespread gender-based violence, including rape. He noted that the ICC Office of the Prosecutor, based on the results of the evidence collection, is currently preparing to issue arrest warrants.
Repression in Iran
Ethnic and religious minorities in Iran, in particular Kurdish and Baloch minorities, have suffered disproportionately from the government’s crackdown on protesters since 2022, a direct result of long-standing discrimination, according to a new report by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran. The report documents a number of grave human rights violations committed by Iranian security forces against members of minorities. The Secretary-General deplores the loss of life during protests in Bangladesh over the weekend, UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq said. The UN chief continues to closely monitor developments in the country, including the Chief of Army Staff’s announcement of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and plans to form an interim government. “He calls on all parties to remain calm and exercise restraint and stresses the importance of a peaceful, orderly and democratic transition,” Haq said.