WUNRN
Femmes Africa Solidarité and its partner World YWCA
successfully organised a Panel and a series of high level meetings for 6
Sudanese women in
Sudanese
Women's Statement on Darfur
Thank you Mr. President,
We, Sudanese Women members
of the “Steering Committee on Darfur”, representing the Forum created during
the 1st African Women's Consultation on Darfur, facilitated by
Femmes Africa Solidarité and other partners, ahead of the AU Summit in Addis
Ababa, in January 2008, are grateful to be addressing this 7th
United Nations Human Rights Council today, and to express our resolve to stand
together and pursue a Common Platform and Agenda on the Darfur peace process.
Mr. President .Ladies
and Gentlemen members of the Council,
WE:
ARE
DEEPLY CONCERNED about the recent escalation of violence in Darfur
which resulted in mass killings, property destruction, massive secondary
displacement of people, and further suffering of women and children;
STRONGLY
CONDEMN all acts of violence against civilians, particularly
sexual violence against women and girls;
ARE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED about
the negative impact of this violence on vulnerable groups, and the attendant
lack of economic and social rights, especially for the women and youth;
ARE FURTHER CONCERNED by the lack of a strong
women VOICE in the peace negotiation efforts for Darfur;
We
therefore CALL ON this Council to:
URGE the warring groups to stop the
conflict immediately and adhere to the peace process
ENCOURAGE the Sudan National Unity
Government to review and reform laws that infringe on women rights,
particularly rape and other forms of sexual violence, And to undertake measures
that address impunity and ensure that all violators of human rights are brought
to justice
URGE Member
States to speed and support the full deployment of UNAMID and to contribute the
necessary equipment that will enable them to protect the civilians,
particularly women in Darfur, and to include women in their contingents for
deployment; and ENCOURAGE the
Sudan National Unity Government to facilitate all obstacles facing the
deployment effectively
REINFORCE the various international
instruments that seek to promote, protect and encourage the participation of
women at all levels, particularly the UNSC Res. 1325 on Women Peace and Security, the Solemn Declaration on Gender
Equality, and the Protocol to the Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the
Rights of Women in Africa.
REQUEST the UN to nominate a Gender
Adviser to the UN and AU Darfur peace mediation teams
REQUEST the council to establish
effective mechanisms for follow up of the implementation of the recommendations
of the Group of Experts on Darfur as well as the recent recommendations of the
Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Sudan.
SUPPORT capacity building initiatives
for the women as a basis for ensuring their full and effective participation in
peace process in Darfur; as well as ENCOURAGING the Sudan National Unity
Government to take into consideration women issues when adopting laws.
Interim
Steering Committee of the Sudanese Women Forum on Darfur
Geneva
March 2008
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