13 March 2025
Thank you, Madame President.
I would also like to thank Ms. Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF and Mr.
Christopher Lockyear, Secretary General of Médecins Sans Frontières for their very important statements.
Madame President,
Greece remains deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in Sudan, particularly in light of the ongoing violence, the grave humanitarian crisis, and the alarming reports of human rights violations across the country.
In this respect allow me to emphasize three key-points:
First, protection of vulnerable populations, especially children, is an absolute priority.
The scale of violations against children in Sudan, as we heard form our briefers, is unprecedented. In 2024 alone, the UN verified over 2,000 grave violations against children, with Darfur being the most affected region. More than 1,000 children have been killed or maimed, and thousands more endure inhumane treatment in detention facilities.
We call on all parties to:
-Immediately release all detained children.
-End the recruitment and use of minors in armed conflict.
-Ensure that schools and hospitals remain protected from military use.
These abuses directly contravene Sudan’s international legal obligations, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Geneva Conventions. We call on all actors to implement clear directives to prevent further violations and engage with the UN and other agencies to develop action plans to protect children from conflict.
Second, ensuring humanitarian access and protecting civilians remains crucial.
We call for unrestricted humanitarian access and the removal of all security and administrative barriers hindering aid delivery. The use of starvation as a weapon of war, condemned by Security Council Resolution 2417 (2018), must end immediately.
Reports of torture, forced labor, and sexual violence in RSF and SAF-controlled detention centers highlight alarming violations. We urge for immediate steps to allow independent monitoring of detention facilities and ensure full compliance with international humanitarian law.
Women and girls remain disproportionately affected, facing gender-based violence, displacement, and lack of access to essential services. Greece emphasizes the importance of gender-sensitive humanitarian responses, including specialized healthcare, psychological support, and legal assistance to safeguard their safety and dignity. A substantial scale-up in humanitarian aid is essential to mitigate the suffering of affected populations.
Third and very important. There is an urgent need for a ceasefire and political solution.
Without an immediate cessation of hostilities, Sudan’s crisis will worsen, posing long-term consequences for regional security. Greece strongly reaffirms Sudan’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity and strongly condemns any attempts to establish parallel governing structures, which prolong the conflict and deepen fragmentation. We call on all actors to adhere to the Jeddah Declaration and engage in good faith towards a comprehensive political settlement.
Madame President,
In closing, allow me to add, that in this critical moment, Sudan needs more than words — it needs action by the international community. My country Greece remains committed to advocating peace, stability, and justice for all Sudanese people and remains ready to consider further measures by this Council to this effect.
I thank you.