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SUDAN: Gender-based violence still rampant in Darfur, say aid agencies
December 5, 2005 - (IRIN) Humanitarian agencies have called for
increased efforts to prevent sexual and gender-based violence (GBV)
in war-torn western Sudan, saying such acts against women violate
their human rights.
The call was made during a meeting in Nyala, the capital of South
Darfur State at the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender
Violence campaign, on 25 November.
The campaign links 25 November, the International Day Against Violence
Against Women and 10 December, International Human Rights Day.
"Violence is not inevitable," said Hassan Mohtashami,
a UN Population Fund (UNFPA) representative in Sudan. "Rather,
it is often predictable and preventable. A number of interventions
can be promising and effective in preventing violence and reducing
the harm caused when it does occur."
UNFPA has been mandated to initiate GBV prevention and treatment
programmes in Darfur. It is working with federal and state officials
to implement measures to protect women and girls, change harmful
policies and build the capacity of UN agencies, government institutions
and NGOs in the region.
"The impact of the conflict is very clear in all aspects of
life. But it's more clear on women, children, and the elderly because
they are most fragile," noted Elhaj Atalmnan Idris, the deputy
governor of South Darfur.
"I hope that we can learn to respect women and appreciate their
role in life as the mother, the sister, the daughter, the colleague
in the office," he added.
GBV, particularly the rape of women and girls by armed groups, has
been widely reported throughout Darfur. According to state records,
however, only five cases of rape have been prosecuted, resulting
in three convictions so far.
An important impediment to the effective prosecution of perpetrators
is a mandatory form, known as Form 8, which women are required to
fill out in the event of a rape before being attended to by police
or medical personnel.
Aid workers said the sensitive nature of GBV makes women reluctant
to fill in the form. Many of them therefore do not report the crime
or receive timely medical treatment.
The deputy governor insisted, however, that this form was no longer
mandatory. According to Decree 17, which the governor signed on
6 March, women in South Darfur should have access to medical attention
without having to fill out the form.
"We believe firmly that the humanitarian situation has witnessed
a remarkable improvement. But we are still looking for more opportunities,
more improvements," Idris stated.
Mohtashami said actions that could prevent GBV included educational
programmes in schools, educating families and peer groups to prevent
child abuse and youth violence, improving emergency response systems
and providing trauma care and access to health services.
"Violence continues to terrorise millions of women and girls
regardless of geography, race or socioeconomic status," Mohtashami
noted.
Globally, the UNFPA representative added, one in every three women
suffers some form of violence in her lifetime and one in four will
suffer violence by an intimate partner.
An earlier report released by UNFPA and the UN Children's Fund said
a study had shown that sexual violence was consistently reported
during attacks on villages - especially when women and girls left
the camps.
"Although the women ... were asked no direct questions with
regard to sexual and GBV, the issue came up in most focus groups
when discussing the health impacts of the conflict," observed
Roselidah Ondeko, GBV team leader for UNFPA, at the time.
"Unmarried girls were the most affected, and some did not seek
health care in clinics due to stigma and shame," the report
said. Women in the focus groups cited "physical injuries due
to beatings, rape, miscarriages, excessive bleeding or injuries
sustained during flight from the enemies" as some of the health
problems they had suffered.
Sexually transmitted diseases, malnutrition, irregular menstrual
cycles and psychological disturbances such as nightmares were also
frequently mentioned by the women.
The Darfur conflict pits Sudanese government troops and allied militias
like the Janjawid against two main rebel groups, the Sudanese Liberation
Army/ Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement, who claim
to be fighting against the marginalisation of their region by Khartoum.
According to the UN, some 3.4 million people continue to be affected
by the conflict, of whom 1.8 million are internally displaced and
200,000 have fled to neighbouring Chad. The majority of those affected
are women and children.
From: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/0864ec76e444e7877843a816d8fb2ce0.htm
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