WUNRN
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=16013&LangID=E
Sudan – “The
Silence & The Denials” – UN Special Rapporteur Calls for Open Dialogue on
Violence Against Women
GENEVA / KHARTOUM (27 May 2015) –
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Rashida
Manjoo, called for more open and constructive dialogues among all parties to
address the causes and consequences of violence against women in the Sudan.
“The silence and the denials,
whether by State authorities or many civil society participants, regarding the
subject of violence as experienced by women, is a source of concern,” Ms.
Manjoo stressed at the end of her twelve-day official visit* to the country.
“Constructive and open dialogues
among all stakeholders; unfettered access; and an environment that is conducive
to full and frank disclosures and dialogues, without the fear of reprisals; is
essential in our common quest to promote and protect all human rights for
all,”, the expert said, noting that during her visit concerns were expressed in
this regard.
The Special Rapporteur noted that
open and constructive dialogues must address challenges such as social stigma
and silences surrounding certain manifestations of violence; an unresponsive,
and sometimes hostile environment, when the issue of violence against women is
raised; as well as the lack of or the underreporting of cases and the limited
existence of disaggregated data.
She also pointed out to
traditional, cultural and social norms that prevent disclosure and the seeking
of assistance from persons outside of the family unit; and the focus on
reconciliation, at the expense of accountability, for crimes against women and
girls.
Ms. Manjoo encouraged the
Government of Sudan and all stakeholders to find common ground in
constructively engaging and addressing the tensions that exist, in particular
with the international community and the UN, in the interests of the people
living in Sudan.
During her information-gathering
visit to Sudan, the expert confirmed that information received from confidential
sources through reports and interviews show a range of manifestations of
violence against women, whether in conflict or non-conflict areas. “Reports and
interviews reflect the existence of violence in the family and the community,
including against women and girl children, whether physical, psychological,
sexual or economic,” she explained.
Other manifestations include an
increase in trafficking of women and girls, particularly of asylum seekers and
refugees, rape and sexual harassment/humiliation in the context of conflict,
humiliations of women activists including of Darfuri women students, and
insecurity prevalent within and outside numerous IDP camps, which renders women
and girls vulnerable to violence.
Violence also occurs as a consequence
of “the discriminatory interpretation and implementation of provisions of some
laws, including the Criminal Law, the Public Order Law and the Personal Status
Law,” Ms. Manjoo noted.
Over the past 10 years, concrete
legal and institutional measures have been made towards addressing women’s
human rights in particular the adoption of affirmative action policies in
favour of women through the Electoral Law 2014, the Trafficking in Persons Act
and the Asylum Act in 2014; the amendment of article 149 of the Criminal Law,
and also the inclusion of a new provision on sexual harassment in the Criminal
Law.
In addition, she noted that
information was also shared on numerous policies and strategies on violence
against women, including the national plan for eradicating violence against
women (2011 – 2016), with its successor (2015 – 2031) currently in the process
of finalization.
Despite the assertions of
transparent and inclusive consultations and engagement with civil society
individuals and organisations, in the development of laws and policies, there
are still concerns about the selective inclusion of certain sectors of the NGO
community in such efforts.
“The reports that I have received
indicate a clamping down on NGOs generally, but more specifically women’s
rights organisations, including through deregistration, challenges to
applications by the relevant authorities, and also the imposition of barriers
to registration,” Ms. Manjoo said.
“The issue of access to justice
and to justice itself, for crimes experienced by women and girls, requires
attention, especially through addressing the accountability deficit that seems
to be the norm in Sudan for gendered crimes,” the expert highlighted.
The Special Rapporteur urged the
Government of Sudan “to set up a Commission of Inquiry, consisting of both
national and international persons, to look into the reports of allegations of mass
rapes in different regions, including recent allegations regarding the village
of Thabit.
(*) Check the
full end-of-mission statement:
English: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=16009&LangID=E
Arabic: http://www.ohchr.org/AR/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=16009&LangID=A
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Ms. Rashida
Manjoo (South Africa) was appointed Special Rapporteur on Violence against
women, its causes and consequences in June 2009 by the UN Human Rights Council.
Ms. Manjoo is a Professor in the Department of Public Law of the University of
Cape Town. Learn more, visit:
http://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/women/srwomen/pages/srwomenindex.aspx
The Special
Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human
Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in
the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the independent fact-finding
and monitoring mechanisms of the Human Rights Council that address either specific
country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special
Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not
receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or
organization and serve in their individual capacity.