Page:UN Resolution 2340 (2017).pdf/2

 and insecurity continues to negatively affect civilians and has contributed to an increase in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) observed in 2016, and that the Government of Sudan continues to restrict humanitarian access to conflict areas where vulnerable civilian populations reside, and urging the Government of Sudan to work with international partners to address the urgent humanitarian crisis faced by the people of Darfur, including by improving the facilitation of timely and unhindered humanitarian access to all areas by humanitarian agencies and personnel, consistent with the United Nations guiding principles of humanitarian assistance, including humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence, and the relevant provisions of international law,

Emphasizing the imperative for all armed actors to refrain from all acts of violence against civilians, in particular members of vulnerable groups such as women and children, and to end all violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, and further emphasizing that some of these acts may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity under international law,

Expressing concern about the external links, in particular military, between non-signatory armed groups in Darfur and groups outside Darfur, demanding that direct or indirect military support for such armed groups in Darfur ceases, and condemning actions by any armed group aimed at forced overthrow of the Government of Sudan, noting there is no military solution to the conflict in Sudan,

Demanding that the parties to the conflict exercise restraint and cease military action of all kind, including aerial bombardments,

Welcoming the unilateral cessation of hostilities declarations by the parties, urging continued implementation of the cessation of hostilities declarations, and encouraging the parties to promptly reach a permanent cessation of hostilities,

Urging all armed groups engaged in conflict in the Jebel Marra area, including the Sudan Liberation Army-Abdul Wahid (SLA/AW) to join the AU-led peace negotiations, as a first step towards a comprehensive and sustainable peace agreement, and recalling its willingness to consider targeted sanctions against individuals or entities who impede the peace process, constitute a threat to stability in Darfur and the region, commit violations of international humanitarian or human rights law or other atrocities, or violate the measures implemented by Member States in accordance with relevant resolutions,

Recalling its resolution 2117 (2013) and the report of the Secretary-General (S/2015/289), and expressing concern at the threat to peace and security in Darfur arising from the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, and the use of such weapons against civilians affected by armed conflict, and the continued threats to civilians posed by unexploded ordnance,

Deploring the continued violations of resolution 1591 (2005) by the Government of Sudan, including its Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and government affiliated armed groups, involving the routine movement of weapons and ammunition into Darfur, without prior authorization of the 1591 committee, established pursuant to paragraph 3 of resolution 1591 (the Committee),