The International Federation for Rights and Development (IFRD) is proud to announce that, following our lobbying efforts, the event “Ending the Conflict in Sudan and Opportunities for Achieving Lasting Peace” scheduled with CEFTUS has been cancelled.
We raised serious concerns that invited speakers have ties to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a militia implicated in war crimes and systematic gender-based violence in Sudan and sanctioned by the European Union under its Sudan sanctions package. The use of misinformation in securing an event is alarming. Offering them a platform in the European Parliament would have risked legitimising perpetrators while silencing survivors.
Members of the European Parliament acknowledged the gravity of these crimes and the importance of ensuring that international forums amplify the voices of victims and civil society rather than those connected to armed groups responsible for atrocities.
We extend our sincere thanks to MEP Sieper for his swift action and decisive efforts to ensure the cancellation of this event. His response reaffirms his role as a strong defender of human rights and his recognition of the urgency of addressing gender-based violence in Sudan. This decision sends a clear message.
IFRD will continue to advocate for accountability, justice, and the protection of Sudanese women and communities affected by this violence.
