Press release - Human rights violations in Sudan, Nigeria and Pakistan

Human rights violations in Sudan, Nigeria and Pakistan
- MEPs strongly condemn the war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan and call for more humanitarian aid
- The culture of impunity in Nigeria must end and the fight against Boko Haram must be intensified
- Parliament calls for the end of child marriages in all of Pakistan and for the protection of religious minorities
On Thursday, Parliament adopted three resolutions on the human rights situations in Sudan, Nigeria and Pakistan.
The threat of war crimes, the escalating violations of international humanitarian law and the human rights situation in El-Obeid, Sudan
MEPs condemn in the strongest possible terms the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sudan, in particular the atrocities taking place during the ongoing siege of the city of El-Obeid by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The EU must urgently step up its humanitarian aid to Sudan, MEPs say, and must provide direct funding to local organisations on the front line, including those in the medical sector. They also stress the urgent need for humanitarian corridors to ensure the evacuation of civilians and the delivery of aid.
MEPs urge the warring parties to end attacks on civilians, including sexual violence, and the resulting famine. They condemn any foreign interference fuelling the war and demand countries cease all support for the RSF, particularly through the supply of weapons.
The EU must impose sanctions on those responsible for attacks against civilians and on external facilitators, such as the Global Security Services Group, for violating the UN arms embargo. MEPs say the EU should add the RSF to its list of terrorist organisations and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions. They call for an independent investigation into alleged war crimes and for the International Criminal Court to be able to extend its jurisdiction to the whole country.
The resolution was adopted by 476 votes in favour and 28 against, with 96 abstentions.
The ongoing persecution of Christians in Nigeria, notably the Kawel village massacre
MEPs strongly condemn the attack in Kawel and express their sincere condolences to the families of the victims. They express their support for the Christian community in Plateau State and reiterate their commitment to defending freedom of thought, conscience and religion. They condemn the alarming rise in abductions and the disproportionate impact on women and girls.
The authorities must take counter-terrorism measures and step up their efforts in the fight against Boko Haram, whilst ensuring that independent investigations are carried out, to bring the perpetrators to justice and end the culture of impunity, MEPs say.
They also call on the Nigerian government to strengthen its protection of civilians, share early warnings, invest in regional mediation and implement sustainable land management policies, promote food security and address the environmental factors underlying conflicts in the country. They call on the EU Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU to pay particular attention to the deteriorating situation of Christians and all persecuted religious communities in Nigeria.
The resolution was adopted by 510 votes in favour and 1 against, with 86 abstentions.
The abduction, forced conversion and child marriage of Maria Shahbaz and the protection of girls in Pakistan
The resolution highlights the case of Maria Shahbaz, a 13-year-old Pakistani Christian girl who was abducted, converted to Islam and forcibly married to her abductor in March 2026. MEPs are calling for her to have access to legal representation, her family, and psychological support. They condemn similar abuses committed against underage girls belonging to religious minorities, underlining that her case is emblematic of broader human rights violations faced by minorities in Pakistan ; according to UN figures in 2025, among women and girls affected by forced conversion through marriage, around 75% were Hindu and 25% were Christian.
Parliament urges Pakistan’s authorities to fully implement the country’s national framework to end child marriage, as is already the case in some provinces of the country, and create a national mechanism for handling complaints from families of abducted or forcibly converted girls from minorities. MEPs call for the protection of religious minorities and urge Pakistan’s government to ensure that all cases involving minors or allegations of coercion are subject to transparent and independent investigations. The perpetrators must be prosecuted and Pakistan’s judicial framework strengthened, they add, and abducted girls must be able to return safely.
The resolution was adopted by show of hands.
Contacts:
-
Elodie LABORIE
Attachée de presse (FR)