Sudanese Women's Declaration and Plan of Action
Civil Forum of Sudan Conference, Women’s Rights in the Sudan: Agenda for the Future, Kampala, Uganda, 11-15 March 2002  

The Conference was hosted by the Pan African Movement and convened Sudanese women and representatives of different civil society organizations and political parties including refugees and Diaspora who met together in Kampala, Uganda, to discuss the challenges of realizing the rights of women in Sudan. The Conference welcomed strong contingents of participants from all parts of Sudan alongside refugees and people from the Diaspora. The conference took note that two trends are expressed in the matter of religion and state. One trend believes in separation between the state and religion and the other urges to abide by Asmara Declaration 1995. 

Thus w ith a united voice the participants resolved to adhere to the following guiding principles.

Declaration

We, the participants in this august Assembly commit ourselves to work towards the immediate achievement of a just and lasting peace and democracy in Sudan.

We affirm the following Core Values to guide our actions:

We urge all conflicting parties to stop the killing, atrocities, aerial bombardment and human rights violations.

We affirm that real democracy is a prerequisite for a justice-oriented society.

All people are equal regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, class, disability, race culture and geographical backgrounds and so forth;

We recognize and affirm all international human rights norms such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and regional instruments, including the African Development Forum III Consensus Document of 8 March 2002;

We affirm the voluntary unity of Sudan within a multi-cultural framework with justice and equal citizenship;

We affirm that the right to self-determination is an inalienable right;

We acknowledge the historical marginalisation and oppression of women.

We demand all political parties to bring about gender equity, commit themselves to the provision of social services, combat the negative impact of structural adjustment programmes and the market economy;

We are aware of regional, cultural, ethnic and religious marginalisation and the consequent double marginalisation of women from those regions;

1. The women of Sudan are suffering systematic and horrific abuses and violations of their basic rights on account of war and oppression. Women have been the principal victims in the civil war, suffering from aerial bombardment, abduction, slavery, rape, displacement, landmines, hunger and perpetrated hunger. Women have suffered the forcible conscription of their children, and the burdens of widowhood. In addition, Sudanese women have long suffered from discrimination, exploitation and neglect in patriarchal societies in all parts of Sudan from South to North, West to East.

2 Realizing the rights of Sudanese women is a challenge for all Sudanese, women and men. Sudan can only achieve a just and lasting peace, genuine democracy and development when the rights of women are realized in their entirety, while peace and democracy are themselves preconditions for the realization of women’s rights. But women’s rights are not promissory to be redeemed at some future time of liberation or democracy: all Sudanese political forces and civil society organizations must struggle for women’s rights now

3 Women in Sudan speak with many voices. This diversity is to be embraced. Sudan’s plurality cannot be forced into a single blueprint, and Sudanese women need to listen to their diverse voices and respond accordingly. However, on many key issues of human rights, peace and democracy, women have a common message.

4 There needs to be far more information and awareness about the situation of women in Sudan. Multiple sources of information, especially those emanating from women themselves, should be encouraged, and should be integral parts of an information network. Illiteracy and lack of education among women, obsolete tradition and shackles imposed upon them should be combated in order for women to become more aware of their rights. Efforts must be exerted to prevent negative images of women in the media.

5 Sudanese women need solidarity amongst one another, and from their sisters abroad. Sudanese women are all suffering.

Plan of Action

Strategy: We call upon all the participants in this conference, both women and men, to commit themselves to work towards implementation of the recommendations. The detailed reports and recommendations from the workshops will be appended to this Declaration and should be considered integral parts of it.  

Short-Term Strategies  
 
• The conference recommended the formation of a Sudanese Women’s network.
 
• To ensure the follow-up of these recommendations, it is agreed to convene the Sudan women’s conference every 2-3 years.  The coordinators in consultation with others will determine the operational methods of the network and the venue of the conference.
 
• Formation of voluntary thematic committees to follow-up recommendations of the first Civil Forum of Sudan Conference on Women’s Rights in the Sudan: Agenda for the Future.
 
• Lobbying, advocacy and campaigning for physical protection of civilians, particularly women using the Geneva Conventions.
 
• The Civil Forum of Sudan (CFS) should act as a liaison body for provision and dissemination of information to all thematic committees
 
• The Civil Forum of Sudan is to act as a focal point to build alliances and bridges at local, regional and international levels.
 
• Engagement with political parties should be pursued toward gender-sensitive policies and politics.
 
• Research, documentation and data collection for women’s rights should be utilised as a tool for monitoring, lobbying and advocacy.
 
• The involvement of the civil society, particularly women, in peace negotiations, including the IGAD process.
 
• Women should participate in all peace discussions including grassroots, national and international levels
 
• Capacity building of women in all specializations and vocational training, particularly in peace negotiations and peace building.
 
• Awareness raising and advocacy campaigns about CEDAW and all human rights instruments and conventions