Violations of civil and political rights by Sudanese security forces throughout the country are seriously undermining prospects for free, fair, and credible elections in April 2010.

The African Union should improve its strategies for civilian protection and accountability in its efforts to end ongoing crises on the continent. The AU will hold a Summit meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from January 25 to February 2, 2010.

Human Rights Watch writes to African Heads of State in advance of the January 25 African Union meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In its Sudan policy review completed in mid-October 2009, the Obama administration indicated it would regularly assess the progress of peace in Sudan-or lack thereof. However, the administration has not publicly disclosed precisely what benchmarks it is applying to assess progress in Sudan. Accordingly, a coalition of nine Sudan advocacy groups has today released a strategy paper aiming to provide these benchmarks for the administration

United Nations Security Council members should express strong support for an African Union panel’s call for justice for victims in Darfur given the consistent failure by the Sudanese government to hold perpetrators of serious crimes accountable.

Turkey should not allow President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, an accused war criminal, to attend a conference in Istanbul, and should arrest him if he sets foot in Turkey.

A report released on November 5, 2009 by the United Nations Panel of Experts on Sudan reveals continuing human rights violations in Darfur and underscores the urgent need to reform Sudan's repressive national security law.

The African Union should support the High-Level Panel on Darfur's call for prosecutions to provide justice for victims in Darfur. The panel’s recommendation to create a “hybrid court” – along with establishing a truth and reconciliation commission and strengthening the domestic criminal justice system – could usefully supplement justice efforts in Darfur, but not replace International Criminal Court cases.