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Sarah Rial Receives Prestigious Human Rights Award

Friday, December 10th, 2010

Update: read Sarah’s remarks at the event and the Boston Globe’s coverage. Congratulations, Sarah!

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Secretary of State Hilary Clinton announced earlier this week that Sarah Rial, Program Director of My Sister’s Keeper, is the recipient of the 2010 Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights. My Sister’s Keeper is a faith-inspired, multi-racial group of women who work together to lend sisterly assistance to communities of women in various locations throughout the world.

Watch live via a live stream at 2:30 p.m. (ET), Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton commemorate Human Rights Day by presenting the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award to Sarah, this Friday, December 10, at approximately 2:30 p.m. at the Department of State.

Sarah, a native of southern Sudan, heads up MSKeeper’s programs on girls’ education, adult literacy and currently is leading an unprecedented peacebuilding initiative among women representing diverse regions, races, religions and ethnicities throughout war torn Sudan and the Diaspora.

Sarah has a long history of dedication to organizations working to empower women and advocate for peace. Since her arrival as a refugee to the United States in 1999, Sarah has held leadership positions with the Sudanese Women Alliance and the Fertit Association. Prior to working with My Sister’s Keeper, Sarah was the Community Programs Case Manager for the Lynn Community Health Center of Lynn, Massachusetts, and Employment Services Manager for the Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Boston’s Refugee and Immigration Services. Sarah is the Co-Founder and President of the African Women’s Empowerment Group, a nonprofit organization helping immigrant and refugee women to achieve self-sufficiency.

The Eleanor Roosevelt award for Human Rights was established in 1998 by President Bill Clinton, to honor outstanding American promoters of rights in the United States. It was first awarded on the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, honoring Mrs. Roosevelt’s role as the “driving force” in the development of the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

We hope you’ll forward a word of congratulations to Sarah (sarah@mskeeper.org) and tune in to the live webcast at www.state.gov this Friday, December 12, at 2:30 p.m.

Tags: Activism, Darfur, Events, Human Rights, My Sister's Keeper, Sarah Rial, Violence Against Women
Posted in Activism, Faith, Human Rights | No Comments »

16 Ways to Defend Women’s Rights

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

Women Weaving in Darfur - photo by Mark Lotwis for the Save Darfur Coalition

Beginning on November 25^th with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women through Human Rights Day on December 10^th, there is a great opportunity for all of us to make a difference. If we take a moment to stand in solidarity with the women survivors of genocide and violent conflict, we can help alleviate their suffering. During these 16 days, activists across the world work together to promote ending violence against women, and while activism against sexual and gender based violence is essential, 16 days a year is not nearly enough. We all need to take steps throughout this upcoming year to end violence against women by supporting the following initiatives.

Protection for women

Despite the international community’s best efforts, the situation for women in Darfur remains grave. Over the past seven years, U.N. agencies and international organizations have undertaken efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the victims of the genocide in Darfur, the majority of whom are women and children.

The joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID), continues to face huge obstacles in its attempts to protect civilians. Darfuri women living in refugee and internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps are subject to rape and other forms of sexual assault and remain especially vulnerable to diseases and trauma. Even when the fighting is not as prevalent, rape continues to be a weapon consistently used to dehumanize women and their families.

The expulsion of key international aid organizations in March 2009 following the International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Omar al-Bashir, along with severe restrictions and intimidation of aid workers, have made it increasingly difficult for humanitarian organizations to help women. Darfuri women are left with no choice but to endure the risk of rape as a part of their daily life. They tolerate unspeakable suffering, as they have no access to reporting or paths towards holding the perpetrators accountable.

Heartbreaking stories continue to come out every day from Darfur On November 23^rd, a 40 year-old woman from Kassab camp near Kutum in North Darfur was gang raped by four men from the Janjaweed (Arab militias). Her family continues to struggle to find treatment for her physical and emotional wounds. Last weekend, three girls between thae ages of 10 and 15 years old from a camp in Eastern Chad were raped and remain in critical condition. Two cases of suicide of pregnant girls were reported by camp leaders to the Netherlands-based Radio Dabanga, in an appeal to the international community for protection of women. The international community must do more to ensure that women in conflicts such as Darfur receive protection. Secretary Clinton has already issued statements supporting women’s rights in Sudan; however, we must continue to make sure that the protection of women remains in the spotlight and that the Obama Administration takes steps to pressure the Government of Sudan to allow UNAMID access to provide security to women in Darfur.

(more…)

Tags: 16 Days, gender-based violence, Violence Against Women, Women's Issues
Posted in Activism, Violence Against Women | No Comments »

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

Wednesday, November 24th, 2010

This Thursday is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. While we celebrate all that we are thankful for, women and girls in Darfur continue to be targets of sexual and gender based violence. Over the past decade, rape has been used as a tool of war by the Sudan armed forces, allied militias and other belligerents in Darfur to terrorize women and their communities. Today, Darfuri women and girls are increasingly targets of opportunistic violence that flourishes in Darfur’s environment of widespread insecurity, continuing violent clashes, and near total impunity.

Women from Kalma IDP camp in Darfur

During the height of direct attacks on villages by the Sudan Armed Forces and allied janjaweed militias, women and girls were often specifically targeted with brutal sexual violence. In a report by Amnesty International, a Darfuri woman recounted her horrific experience:

“When we tried to escape they shot more children. They raped women; I saw many cases of Janjawid raping women and girls. They are happy when they rape. They sing when they rape and they tell that we are just slaves and that they can do with us how they wish.”

Such mass targeting of women and girls is not about sexual desire; it is fundamentally about control and power. Sexual and gender based violence is often intended not only to physically injure women, but also to humiliate and emotionally scar women and their families and communities.

Currently most incidents of sexual and gender based violence are concentrated on the outskirts of camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs), where 1 out every 3 Darfuri civilians have fled to seek refuge from violence. With continued restrictions on its movement and operations, UNAMID has been unable to provide full security in areas around IDP camps. Women face an especially high risk for sexual and gender based violence whenever they travel outside camps, which they often must do to gather firewood, plant crops, or collect water. The Sudanese government also severely restricts the ability of humanitarian organizations to provide medical and psychosocial services that would assist survivors of sexual violence.

The perpetrators of rape and other forms of violence against women do so with near total impunity. Rape and other forms of violence against women often go unreported since women who admit to being attacked face harassment and their claims are often dismissed by authorities. Women also often fear the social stigma that can surround sexual violence – at worst, victims who admit attacks can be shunned by their husbands or families.

In the parts of Sudan where Sharia law is practiced, rape is defined as the offense of zina — intercourse between unmarried men and women – that is performed without consent. If a woman is unable to prove she did not consent, she is at risk of being charged with zina for having confessed to sexual intercourse outside of marriage. To prosecute a man for rape, Sudanese courts often require to the sexual act to have been witnessed by four men – making such prosecutions nearly impossible. Under Sudan’s Sharia law, unmarried women who are convicted of zina receive 100 lashes, and married women risk being sentenced to death by stoning. All of these factors make the reporting of sexual and gender based crimes, let alone prosecuting them, very rare.

The international community must do more to prevent and respond to violence against women in Dafur. To reduce the level of sexual and gender based violence in Darfur, the social stigma against victims must be overcome. While the Joint UN/AU Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has conducted several training exercises aimed at reducing the social stigma of sexual violence, these must be expanded throughout the region. UNAMID can also reduce the possibility of violence against women occurring by increasing patrols surrounding IDP camps, in consultation with IDP women about when and where patrols would be most beneficial. The international community should also promote women’s leadership in Sudanese civil society and Darfuri women’s full participation in the Darfur peace negotiations. Any lasting peace must be crafted with the full inclusion of civil society stakeholders, including women.

As we celebrate with family and friends this Thanksgiving, the crisis in Darfur and grave challenges faced by women in Sudan will continue. The current environment of impunity for sexual and gender-based violence and other atrocities cannot be tolerated. On Thursday, we should not only give thanks, but renew our commitment to advocacy to protect and empower women across Sudan.

Tags: Darfur, genocide, Government of Sudan, Human Rights, IDPs, Violence Against Women
Posted in Violence Against Women | No Comments »

Headlines from Sudan – November 8th & 9th

Tuesday, November 9th, 2010

Here is the daily roundup and summary of the major headlines coming out of Sudan.

Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Troops

Fighting continues between the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in North and South Darfur as well as North Kordofan. The SAF sent military reinforcements south from Nyala towards the areas where the JEM was believed to be based. Both parties claim to be victorious and JEM stated they have shot down a MiG fighter jet and also taken over 20 prisoners of war.

Sudanese army attack JEM rebels near Chadian border Sudan Tribune
Fighting increases in Darfur ahead of vote Mail and Guardian
Military reinforcements head south from Nyala, Darfur Radio Dabanga
JEM rebels say down military plane in North Kordofan Sudan Tribune

State Minister at the Presidency Amin Hassan Omer stated that Radio Dabanga was a threat to national security and anyone with connections to them would be brought to justice. The Sudan Media Center claimed that Radio Dabanga has been working with the International Criminal Court and hopes to embarrass the Government of Sudan.

Collaborators with Radio Dabanga will be brought to justice- official Al-Sahafa
Sudan says Radio Dabanga working with ICC Sudan Tribune

The arrests of Darfuri civilians by the National Intelligence Security Service (NISS) continued this week. Yesterday police stormed the University of Zalingei in West Darfur and arrested several students claiming they belonged to armed opposition movements. NISS arrested 2 Darfuris from Khamsa Degaig IDP camp near Zalingei. They were arrested and taken to an unknown location. NISS has not given a reason for their arrest or allowed their families to visit them.

Police storm University of Zalingei and arrest some students Radio Dabanga
Security arrest two IDPs from West Darfur camp Radio Dabanga

Talks between the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM) are being held at the headquarters of the Council of Ministers in Khartoum on post-referendum issues and Abyei. Journalists have not been allowed to cover them.

SPLM, NCP resume post-referendum talks in Khartoum Sudan Tribune

Two women from Ardamata IDP camp in West Darfur were raped by three armed men while harvesting crops from a nearby farm. According to Radio Dabanga a relative of one of the girls stated that police at the camp have refused to investigate.

Gunmen rape two women at W. Darfur Camp Ardamata Radio Dabanga

According to Deng Arop Kuol, the local chief administrator in Abyei, they have 36,000 IDPs registered and willing to return to the region and will begin to receive them in the coming days.

Abyei expects to receive over 36,000 displaced from north Sudan Sudan Tribune

Preparing for MINURCAT’s Departure: the Post-Peacekeeping Reality in Eastern Chad

Friday, April 30th, 2010

Next week, the UN Secretary-General’s report on the future of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) peacekeeping force in Eastern Chad will be released, outlining the withdrawal of peacekeeping troops in the Chad-Sudan border region visited by PHR researchers in 2008. The report Nowhere to Turn: Failure to Protect, Support and Assure Justice for Darfuri Women, released by PHR in June 2009, outlined urgent human rights issues in Eastern Chad, including food insecurity, camp infrastructure, access to health and psychosocial care, and security for refugee families. Among the disturbing findings of our investigation was a 50% rate of rape or sexual assault reported by women interviewed by the PHR medical team.

Since the time of PHR’s investigation, a number of security threats and human rights issues have been recorded — via international media reporting on hijackings and kidnappings of humanitarian aid workers, and reports such as that released by the Institute of Studies on Conflicts and Humanitarian Action (IECAH) on the continued need for the peacekeeping force.

Many large-scale infrastructure issues remain, such as the weak Chadian legal system, drought and food shortage, and the continued operation of militarized rebel groups in the area, as well as auxiliary practical issues such as low phone coverage (a key issue for reducing attacks against refugees and humanitarians, as emergency phone calls allow for MINURCAT forces to be alerted to security problems). The recent dispute over the continued presence of the MINURCAT force has detracted focus from these problems, which need to remain at the forefront of the diplomatic and humanitarian agenda in Chad. (Despite ongoing needs in Eastern Chad, the Chadian Government opposed the MINURCAT mission’s renewal in January 2010.)

The withdrawal of MINURCAT transfers responsibility for the security of refugees and humanitarian operations to the Government of Chad (GoC) — a significant challenge for a state with low material wealth and incomplete infrastructure. So, what can be done, given the limitations of the current circumstances?

First, it is important to remember that the continued existence of the 200,000 Darfurian refugees in Eastern Chad relies on the efforts of humanitarian aid workers and UN staff on the ground: managing the refugee camps, distributing WFP rations and shelter items, and providing emergency medical care. Humanitarian agencies have continued to operate in Eastern Chad despite increasingly frequent security threats to NGOs and personnel, and rely on police escorts in order to operate in the Phase IV security environment. The current system of police escorts for NGO convoys must be taken over by the Chadian police force, and it is particularly important that NGOs are not obliged to pay or provide other compensation for the new security arrangements, and that the GoC accept responsibility for ensuring the security of the humanitarian operations.

Secondly, refugee communities and the humanitarian actors working with refugees must be consulted and kept informed of the transition and departure of MINURCAT and how the GoC will continue MINURCAT’s security and protection activities. In order to ensure this takes place, the GoC should immediately establish a dialogue and consultation forum with refugee communities and humanitarian workers, and the international community should remain engaged in the transition process to ensure that this takes place.

Thirdly, it is of utmost importance that the MINURCAT withdrawal not be allowed to disrupt the humanitarian operations in Eastern Chad and/or detract from refugee security and protection. The continued monitoring of the human rights situation on the ground, and a specific focus on the security and protection needs of refugees, is paramount. The numbers of the civilian police force should be increased as the military component is phased out, and measures must be taken in the recruiting process to improve the conduct of police officers, sensitize police to human rights and gender issues, and dramatically raise the number of women police officers.

The disappointing withdrawal of the MINURCAT force — before the benchmarks of withdrawal have been met (see the Secretary-General’s December 2008 reports) — should not distract the UN Security Council or the international community from addressing the ongoing problems affecting the Darfurian refugee population in Eastern Chad. The reduction of arms, sexual and gender-based violence and human rights abuses (demilitarization of camps) must remain a key priority, along with assisting the voluntary and safe return of communities. In addition to resolving security issues on a community level, it is vital that widespread problems, such as the capacity and training of national law enforcement agencies, judiciary and prison systems, are addressed, and that the Chadian military assigns a quick reaction force to take over from MINURCAT’s civilian component.

Tags: Chad, Humanitarian Aid, MINURCAT, Peacekeeping, Protection, Sudan, UNAMID, Violence Against Women
Posted in Peacekeeping | No Comments »

No time for business as usual

Monday, March 29th, 2010

Someone recently said to me, as we were talking about upcoming events in Sudan, that it seems like the international community is “planning for the worst, while programming for the best.” I have just gotten back from Sudan where I was examining how prepared humanitarian agencies are to respond to new crises that may arise in 2010 and 2011. Unfortunately I discovered that humanitarian agencies are so beleaguered by responding to crisis after crisis in Sudan that they have not even made a proper plan yet for dealing with what may hit the communities in Sudan in the next two years. Many people expressed the attitude that dealing with humanitarian problems is just “business as usual” in Sudan. But the next two years will not be business as usual and our belated recognition of this will not only cost us, but will cost those the humanitarian community aims to help.

In April, Sudan will hold national elections, the first genuine multi-party elections in 24 years. In January 2011, south Sudan will hold a referendum on whether to secede from the north, while the Three Areas of Abyei, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile will hold a referendum and popular consultations. Although nobody can prejudge the results of the referendum, all indications at the moment suggest that southern voters will overwhelmingly support independence.

On Refugees International’s recent trip to south Sudan and Southern Kordofan, we interviewed a number of communities all of whom expressed fear and uncertainty about the upcoming elections and referendum. There were fears that competition between electoral candidates would spill over to exacerbate existing inter-community tensions, in an environment where many civilians are armed. In Southern Kordofan, which will not have a referendum and will remain part of the north, Nuba communities expressed fear that they might be targeted and driven from their land in the event of southern independence. Many people were concerned about the fate of southerners displaced in the north if the south secedes, i.e. whether their rights would be protected, or whether they risked statelessness. Now more than ever, the uncertainty of the political situation means that the international community must remain vigilant, keep a close eye on events, and prepare to respond if the situation deteriorates.

Refugees International is calling for the international humanitarian community to engage in a robust contingency planning process involving UN agencies, NGOs, donors and the UN peacekeeping mission UNMIS, in case conflict erupts again on a large scale. Although such planning has begun in south Sudan, a whole-of-Sudan approach is needed, with coordination between the north and the south (so that places like Southern Kordofan do not fall through the cracks). The planning also needs to move beyond theoretical discussions of different scenarios to putting concrete plans on paper. And it must involve consultation with communities who are at the moment facing their fears with little support from outside. Making plans for people without consulting with them is just poor planning.

There are those who say contingency planning is pessimistic, that it is “preparing for war.” But this is false. Being prepared for all possibilities (including the worst case scenario) is not pessimistic, it’s just good sense. As one international observer in Juba said, it is no more pessimistic than buying house insurance. When RI spoke with government officials in Juba, Upper Nile and Southern Kordofan, they were open about saying that if conflict happened, they would expect the international community’s support.

War in Sudan is not inevitable. The international community must still do all it can to help facilitate agreement between the north and south on key outstanding issues related to the full implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. But it must also be realistic and practical, and ultimately, be prepared to assist if things don’t go as well as we programmed.

Jennifer Smith is an Advocate with Refugees International.

Tags: CPA, Darfur, Elections, Humanitarian Aid, IDPs, South Sudan, Sudan, Violence Against Women
Posted in Humanitarian Aid | 1 Comment »

Darfur Womens Action Group and STAND club at American University Honor Women

Monday, March 29th, 2010

Late last week I attended a panel discussion by the Darfur Women Action Group and the STAND Club of American University to honor the struggle, strength and resilience of Darfuri women in the face of genocide. This event was held to commemorate International Women’s Day and Women’s History month, and was solely focused on what needed to be done to empower female survivors of the genocide and how to bring justice and accountability to Darfur, the marginalized cities, and all of Sudan.

It was an all-woman panel featuring Rev. Gloria White Hammond of My Sister’s Keeper, Evelyn Thornton of Initiative for Inclusive security, Fatima Haroun of Darfur Women Action Group, Ciatta Z. Bayshah, Esq. for International Justice Project and Niemat Ahmadi, a representative of Save Darfur Coalition and member of Darfur Women Action Group

Rev. Gloria spoke first of the terrible history of slavery in South Sudan that she herself witnessed. She mentioned that, at the time, $33.00 U.S Dollars was the exchange rate for a slave and that women were disproportionately affected by the slavery. She spoke of the need of women’s voices in peace building for Darfur and all of Sudan. She encouraged the attending American University students, Diaspora community, and other activists to never give up and to use their voice to advocate for women and peace in Sudan.

Evelyn Thornton spoke strongly, clarifying that asking actors to include women in the peace process is not to demonize men, but to have women present and represented in the peace and decision making process for their community and Sudan. Ms. Thornton talked about Inclusive Security’s commitment to innovative strategies that will include women in the peace processes while mentioning that women were only present at the Abuja peace talks at the final, or 7^th meeting. She highlighted that female inclusion was not about equality, and that women at peace talks or tables helped raise issues of peace, not power, education, development and healthcare centers. In all women, have demonstrated a willingness to cross conflict lines and consistently reach collaborative agendas. Key findings that were discussed about women’s involvement were that women should be involved from day 1, that the US negotiation team of mediators should reflect at least 30% women, and that women should be supported at the peace talks.

Fatima Haroun of Darfur Women Action Group spoke passionately of a need for community healing and recovery; that women are enduring constant pain and emotional distress from being witnesses to murder, rape, mass killings, and abuse. She highlighted a urgent need for a process of healing, as well as a trusted system of justice and accountability in Darfur. Fatima asked for stabilization, social amenities, infrastructure and development, trade schools and an empowerment center for women that can provide counseling services and microfinance institutions.

(more…)

Tags: Darfur, Darfur Action Women Group, ICC, International Women's Day, Peace, Violence Against Women
Posted in Activism, Activist Stories, ICC / Justice, Peacekeeping, Violence Against Women | No Comments »

Women Participate in Camp Patrols

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Members of the all female Indian Formed Police Unit (UN Photo/Christopher Herwig)

On March 16th, 17 female police officers arrived in Khartoum from Namibia to prepare for their deployment to Darfur, where they will take part in patrolling IDP camps and training local residents in community policing. The arrival of these women police officers, while their numbers remain small, is a welcome step toward improving the UNAMID peacekeeping force’s capacity to respond to the needs of Darfuri women and girls in particular.

Throughout the conflict in Darfur, women and girls face the daily threat of targeted attacks, sexual violence, and loss of homes and livelihoods. Displaced civilians in IDP camps continue to confront widespread insecurity, and options are lacking both for reporting new crimes and attacks and helping survivors recover from past violence and rebuild their lives. In announcing the news of the Namibian contingent’s deployment, UNAMID noted that the female officers are “a vital asset as a great number of the victims of the conflict are women, many of whom will only approach female officers for assistance” (unamid.unmissions.org). Many Darfuri women are reluctant to tell their stories to males because of the social stigmas associated with rape.

Newly elected UN Police Adviser, Ann-Marie Orler is another encouraging force in promoting the participation of women in peacekeeping efforts. “One of her top priorities in her new role as the UN’s top police official will be to enhance the participation of female police officers so that they comprise 20 per cent of all UNPOL in peacekeeping by 2014” (pfmc.com). This rejuvenated emphasis on female inclusion has great implications to improve the status of women in war-torn areas of Sudan, while also creating a space in which women and girls can feel comfortable in sharing their stories of the burdens of war.

At the press conference following her recent appointment, Orler referenced the successful deployment of an all-female Formed Police Unit (FPU) in Liberia. The unit’s participation in Liberia had positive impacts on the lives of women and children affected by the conflict, giving them a source of support as well as demonstrating the roles that women can have in society. Formed Police Units are highly specialized in rapid responses in high-risk situations, and take part in investigating violations that occurred in refugee camps. In Darfur, UNAMID is still awaiting the deployment of four more FPUs. In addition to promoting the inclusion of female police officers, Save Darfur advocates for a greater female role in the mission’s military components. As such, the all-female FPU in Liberia may set an interesting and promising precedent for UNAMID as it approaches full deployment and seeks ways to enhance its ability to communicate with and better protect Darfuri women and girls.

While civilians in conflict-ridden areas of Sudan still face many challenges, including the high rates of rape and gender-based violence, the deployment of these female officers is a sign of progress.

Libby Sittley is a campaign intern at the Save Darfur Coalition

Tags: Darfur, IDPs, UNAMID, United Nations, Violence Against Women
Posted in Peacekeeping | 1 Comment »

Women in Darfur: One Year On

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

Cross posted from PHR’s Health Rights Advocate blog.

Last Thursday marked the end of General Gration’s first 12 months as US Special Envoy to Sudan — an event that closely followed the one year anniversary of the Government of Sudan’s expulsion of humanitarian organizations in March 2009.

In the course of the past 12 months, the humanitarian community and UN Country Team in Sudan have made significant efforts to rebuild programming disrupted by the expulsion of 13 international and 3 Sudanese NGOs — efforts that have been encouraged by the US Envoy’s office. Now one year on, however, the loss of specialized programming continues to challenge NGOs and UN agencies working on the ground.

As Physicians for Human Rights and numerous other organizations pointed out in a public letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last November, multi-sectoral programming addressing the vulnerability and needs of women and girls has been affected seriously by this disruption in programs and services. But broader efforts to re-establish programming lost in the expulsions have been unable to rebuild the base of gender expertise in the humanitarian community prior to 2009.

The range of women-specific concerns spans all areas of humanitarian programming in Darfur: specialized health needs; different levels of education; cultural issues concerning sanitation and hygiene services; and, not least, the widespread incidence of sexual violence across Darfur. There is an urgent need to improve the coverage of relief distribution to target women effectively, expand programming into rural areas, and encourage the mainstreaming of gender concerns by NGOs and UN agencies.

Even prior to the expulsions, the breadth and consistency of women-focused programming had suffered a number of setbacks in 2008, including the closure of many women’s centers, the suspension of psycho-social programming in some instances and increasing obstacles for NGOs to communicate with other agencies. In order to remedy this, we need strong sector coordination and the commitment of sufficient resources to the UN lead agency for Gender-based Violence (UNFPA) to implement the strategic plan designed to address these issues.

In response to this urgent crisis of treatment and services, Physicians for Human Rights has issued a briefing paper to the Special Envoy’s Office: Action Agenda for Realizing Treatment and Support for Women and Girls in Darfur, outlining the conditions of this crisis and immediate actions needed to realize both responsive and proactive programming to reduce the vulnerability of women and girls in Darfur and provide support to survivors. The paper outlines the need for a commitment from the US Government to expend the necessary resources for women and girls in Darfur and to establish a consistent message in the Special Envoy’s diplomatic relations. (more…)

Tags: Darfur, Hillary Clinton, Human Rights, Humanitarian Aid, IDPs, Obama Administration, Scott Gration, Sudan, Violence Against Women
Posted in Humanitarian Aid, Violence Against Women | No Comments »

Update on Violence in Jebel Marra

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Rebels from SLA-AW stand guard in Nertiti, Jebel Marra (Photo: Reuters, 2008)

Darfur’s troubled region of Jebel Marra remains under the radar of international concern, despite ongoing hostilities taking a serious toll on the local population. Significant numbers of civilians continue to flee their homes into IDP and refugee camps as the situation deteriorates, with neither humanitarian relief nor peacekeeping protection available.

Jebel Marra is a mountainous area in central Darfur (see map below), and is allegedly the rebel faction SLA-AW’s last stronghold. With talk of a (now faltering) peace agreement in Doha involving Darfur’s most viable rebel group (the JEM) and another with the new rebel alliance (the LJM), and amid reports of divisions among the SLA-AW, Khartoum seems determined to gain control of Jebel Marra once and for all. While there’s no independent way to confirm the extent of civilian deaths (estimates are well into the hundreds) and human rights abuses committed during the fighting, it is clear that all parties to this latest outbreak of violence have been responsible for obstructionist measures that have prevented the local population from receiving the assistance it desperately needs.

Darfur's Jebel Marra region, southwest of UNAMID Force Headquarters in El Fasher. Image based on a UN Planning Map. The boundaries and names shown are for reference only and do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by any party.

The most significant attacks have occurred in Kidingeer, Leiba and Fugoli, Feina and Deribat, which has severely affected the 300,000 people living in Jebel Marra, many of whom are currently displaced and are deprived of access to international humanitarian aid since the NGOs and UN have forced out of the region. In a recent article, Julie Flint stated that the amount of civilians killed in Jebel Marra is the highest since UNAMID began its deployment with over 35,000 regular troops and 12,000 militiamen in Jebel Marra. An assessment completed by the UN and several NGOs in mid-February estimated that around 2,000 families had recently arrived in Nertiti (site of a Rwandan UNAMID company) with over 5,000 new arrivals in Thur and Guldo after the fighting in Eastern Jebel Marra forced civilians to flee their homes. Since the violence in Jebel Marra continued to escalate after the assessment, the amount of displaced is bound to have increased significantly.

With resounding claims that the war in Darfur is over, the crisis in Jebel Marra cannot be ignored. The current loss of lives and livelihoods demand both international outrage and attention. So “where are the cries of “Never again” now that they are needed?” Help the Save Darfur Coalition and others raise the alarm about the devastation in Jebel Marra.

It is our mandate both to act and to demand action – and the time to do so is now.

Contact Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at 202-647-4000 today and ask her to condemn this violence and work with the international community to mobilize support for Darfuri civilians.

Tags: Act Now for Darfur, action, Activism, Darfur, Elections, genocide, Government of Sudan, Hillary Clinton, Human Rights, Humanitarian Aid, IDPs, Jebel Marra, JEM, LJM, Omar al-Bashir, Peace, Peace Process, President Obama, Refugees, SLA-AW, take action, UNAMID, Violence Against Women
Posted in Activism, Humanitarian Aid, IDP Camps | No Comments »

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