Last week, Special Envoy Scott Gration released a statement on International Women’s Day and Sudan, reflecting on “the unique challenges and horrors that women as a group have had to endure and continue to face in Sudan.” He described the women of Darfur and Sudan not as mere victims of events unfolding around them, but as key leaders and peacemakers. These statements are welcome. But as all Sudan advocates know by now, words must be backed with actions.

Aid and support for Darfuri women and girls

One year after Oxfam Great Britain had its license to operate in Northern Sudan revoked by the Government of Sudan, Oxfam’s Alun McDonald reflected on the lasting impact of the March 4th, 2009 expulsions:

Support for victims of violence, particularly rape and sexual assault, has also suffered. 14 of the 16 expelled agencies had projects working to support victims of sexual violence and many of the trauma counselling projects, women’s health centres and support networks that were shut down have not been adequately replaced.

In his International Women’s Day reflections, the Special Envoy concurred that since the March 2009 expulsion of aid groups by the government of Sudan, “many services for addressing gender-based violence and its consequences have not resumed, and the women of Darfur have suffered accordingly.” This recognition is welcome – especially after Gration’s early negotiations with the Government of Sudan on the restoration of aid following his appointment as Special Envoy failed to restore these critical services.

Its also worth noting that the US government – and indeed we as advocates – must take care not to portray the pre-expulsion aid environment as one in which SGBV services were widely available at adequate levels throughout Darfur. On the contrary, aid groups providing such services faced myriad hurdles even before the expulsions. Most importantly, the Special Envoy should explain how the US government is working to improve the availability of protection and human rights services in Darfur, in particular services designed to assist women and survivors of gender-based violence. Access to these services must be ensured not only in and around IDP camps and urban areas, but also to Darfur’s rural population. Recent violence in the Jebel Marra region has shown just how insecure much of Darfur – particularly rural areas – remains.

Addressing impunity

The Special Envoy’s statement notes only that “we should resolve to do better at ending impunity for GBV.” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice similarly declared last week: “We particularly are concerned about the importance of holding accountable violators who employ sexual violence against innocent civilians in Darfur.” Indeed, one of my colleague Sean Brooks’s primary impressions after returning from his recent trip to Darfur was just how pervasive impunity is in Darfur. The environment that UNAMID officials have described as “calm but unpredictable” can be terrifying for average civilians – and options for civilians to safely report acts of violence, particularly sexual violence, are extremely limited. The Special Envoy must go further than describing the need resolve to do better at ending impunity, and explain how the U.S. will work to end impunity in Darfur.

Women in the peace process

In his reflections, the Special Envoy noted that “On Darfur, women continue to play a significant role in peace process.” Gration must ensure that the input and recommendations of Darfuri women and civil society broadly are firmly integrated into peace negotiations. The Special Envoy has lauded recent progress made with the signing of a ceasefire and framework agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Justice and Equality movement, and is invested in supporting ongoing negotiations between these two parties and with other armed movements in Darfur. While these negotiations hold potential, they must focus on the specific concerns of the conflict’s victims, rather than attending mostly to the interests of the armed parties. The fact that the recent framework agreement between JEM and the Government of Sudan includes an amnesty provision offering “general amnesty for the civil and military members of the Justice and Equality Movement Sudan” is a worrisome sign that accountability remains a low priority for those negotiating.

As Sudan advocates, we must ensure that Darfuri and Sudanese women are not merely paid lip service on an annual international holiday, but that their capacity and concerns form pillars of the US’s Sudan policy. As Gration eloquently stated on International Women’s Day, “It is the strength, resolve, and leadership of the women of Sudan that will be the deciding factor in making Sudan a land of peace, stability, and prosperity.”