The Council is expected to consider the report of the Secretary-General on the status of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. Civilians in Blue Nile continue to endure Sudan’s indiscriminate bombing and other abuses, even as ongoing tensions between Sudan and South Sudan threaten the wider border area. Since July 2011, there have been no UN monitors on the ground to document the impact of the fighting on civilians in Blue Nile. The Security Council should urge the Sudanese Government to allow a full and impartial investigation by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights into events in both Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. In these discussions, the Council should:

• Ensure that the Government of Sudan allow and facilitate immediate and impartial humanitarian access to all areas of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, and further immediately end indiscriminate aerial bombings and other violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile;
• Demand that the SPLM-North take concrete steps to ensure fighters respect international humanitarian and human rights law;
• Establish an independent inquiry into alleged violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile since June 2011;
• Encourage senior facilitators and negotiators to consult with women leaders and women’s groups.

The Council is expected to consider the report of the Secretary-General on the status of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. Civilians in Blue Nile continue to endure Sudan’s indiscriminate bombing and other abuses, even as ongoing tensions between Sudan and South Sudan threaten the wider border area. Since July 2011, there have been no UN monitors on the ground to document the impact of the fighting on civilians in Blue Nile. The Security Council should urge the Sudanese Government to allow a full and impartial investigation by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights into events in both Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. In these discussions, the Council should:

• Ensure that the Government of Sudan allow and facilitate immediate and impartial humanitarian access to all areas of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, and further immediately end indiscriminate aerial bombings and other violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile;
• Demand that the SPLM-North take concrete steps to ensure fighters respect international humanitarian and human rights law;
• Establish an independent inquiry into alleged violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile since June 2011;
• Encourage senior facilitators and negotiators to consult with women leaders and women’s groups.