Port Sudan, September 29 (Darfur24)
The Emergency Lawyers Group has called on the authorities to urgently investigate the growing number of child disappearances in three states in eastern and northern Sudan.
In a statement obtained by Darfur24 on Sunday, the group said there is an increase in reports of missing children in Port Sudan, Red Sea State, as well as in Gedaref and River Nile states, causing widespread fear and concern among families.
The group warned that the disappearance of children constitutes a serious threat to community security and safety and is a grave crime under Sudanese law and international human rights conventions, particularly the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which obligates states to protect children from kidnapping, exploitation, and trafficking.
According to the statement, more than 40 cases of children under 18 went missing during September in the Red Sea, Gedaref, and River Nile states. The group also received hundreds of complaints and appeals from families and citizens, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.
“Available information indicates recurring patterns of child targeting amid weak security oversight, with the possible involvement of criminal networks seeking to exploit, traffic, or spread fear among communities,” the group said in their statement.
They called on the authorities to launch swift and transparent investigations into all reports, hold those involved accountable, and tighten security measures within neighborhoods, at city entrances and exits, and at the port, including the inspection of suspicious vehicles.
The group also urged civil society organizations, neighborhood committees, and local leaders to play an active role in reporting and prevention efforts through community watch initiatives around schools and playgrounds, and the operation of local hotlines for reporting suspicious activities.
It warned that any inaction or attempts to cover up these crimes could pave the way for grave violations such as trafficking, recruitment, and exploitation, stressing that child protection is a shared legal and moral responsibility between authorities and society.