Women, Peace and Security Initiatives: East Africa - Horn

Sudanese Women's Statement on Darfur
Femmes Africa Solidarité and its partner World YWCA successfully organised a Panel and a series of high level meetings for 6 Sudanese women in Geneva, 12 March to 18 March, 2008. The women met with UN Delegates, foreign government ministers, ambassadors, NGO's, UN Agencies, the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rghts Situation in Sudan, Ms Sima Samar, and a broad spectrum of key contacts regarding Women in Darfur.

World YwCA Call for Action
January 2008
Elections in Kenya resulted in nearly 500 deaths and 250, 000 people are displaced in the search for safety. Amidst the violence women have been systematically raped and abused. Gang rape as a means of retaliation is on the increase and the Nairobi Women’s Hospital has recorded a two-fold increase in rape cases in recent days.

The Kenya government last year passed a progressive sexual offence law and it must be exercised at this time.

The World YWCA is calling on member associations, civil society, partners and donors to take the action to alleviate the suffering in Kenya by:

1. Donating and supporting ongoing efforts
2. Advocating for women’s inclusion in peace building
3. Saying ‘No’ to impunity for rape and abuse of women
4. Dedicating a prayer session to Kenya

For more information, please click HERE

Workshop on Women Conflict Resolution and HIV/AIDS
July 18, 2003
Women from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member states (Eritrea, Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda) participated in a training workshop organized to help women on solving disputes and conflicts in the region. The content of the training comprised methods of conflict and dispute resolution, negotiation and mediation, gender and HIV/AIDS, and displacement. Particicpants propose to elaborate an IGAD policy on conflict resolution for all IGAD countries in these region and member states to support each other by exchanging experience and information was. For more information visit the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.

Women Sow Seeds of Peace in the Horn of Africa
This campaign is supported by a network of organizations from the Sudan, Somalia, and Eritrea that are working to promote women's roles in peace building, political participation, and human rights.