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Women's Rights Expert Concludes Visit to Sudan
United Nations, Press Release, 6 October 2004
Prof. Yakin Ertürk, the Special Rapporteur on violence against
women, its causes and consequences of the United Nations Commission
on Human Rights today issued the statement below. The statement contains
preliminary findings following her visit to the Sudan and its Darfur
region from 25 September to 2 October 2004.
The situation in Darfur is one of a human crisis exasperated by mutual
mistrust between the people and the Government; the lack of effective
follow-up regarding allegations of human rights violations, including
the rape of women and girls; the distortion of the reality through
conflicting claims and assessments of the situation; and an apparent
lack of security for internally-displaced persons (IDPs).
Women and girls have suffered multiple forms of violence during attacks
on their villages, including rape, killings, the burning of homes
and pillage of livestock. Women have also been tortured during interrogation
by security forces for being relatives of suspected rebels. I heard
numerous accounts of continuing violence against the displaced women
and girls allegedly by government-backed militia and security forces.
In particular, rape and beatings take place when women and girls leave
the IDP camps to fetch wood or other necessities. Consequently, many
women and girls endure the trauma of rape and loss, health problems
and heightened risk of HIV/AIDS infection, as well as domestic violence
and poverty. The fact that women head the majority of the households
in the camps exasperates their vulnerability to violence and exploitation.
In view of my observations in Darfur, I would like to make a few initial
recommendations:
The Government of Sudan must adopt a transparent and participatory
approach to handling the crisis in Darfur and ensure the safety of
civilians.
Accountability for perpetrators, without exception, is fundamental
in addressing violations of human rights and restoring people’s
faith in Government institutions. In this regard, all allegations
of violence against women must be fully investigated and the witnesses
and victims protected from any retaliation.
While the establishment of the National Commission for the investigation
of rape is a positive initiative, it is necessary that the Commission
broaden its mandate to investigate all forms of violence against women;
diversify its composition to include social workers, medical staff,
international observers and the like; improve its data collection
methods and collaborate with the United Nations and non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) in this regard.
Finally, I strongly encourage the Sudanese Government to ratify the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples
Rights on the rights of women in Africa, thus commencing a dialogue
for the improvement of the legal protection of women’s rights
in Sudan, and also implement effectively current obligations under
international law.
Also during my visit to the country, I attended, along with Angela
Melo, Special Rapporteur on women’s rights of the African Commission
on Human and Peoples Rights, the first Africa Regional Consultation
on violence against women. This was followed by a National Consultation
with Sudanese women’s NGOs.
In order to assess reports and allegations regarding Darfur I met
with Sudanese officials and civil society as well as representatives
of the United Nations and of international NGOs. I traveled to Nyala
in South Darfur and El Genina in West Darfur. I undertook field visits
and interviewed internally displaced persons in Kalma, Kass and Ardamata
camps. In Nyala I also visited the female section of Nyala prison.
I wish to thank the Government of Sudan for inviting me to visit Darfur
and facilitating my mission. I am particularly grateful for the assistance
provided by the Advisory Council for Human Rights. I also wish to
thank the team of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
in the country for their assistance, and the African Union for their
logistical support.
I will present a full report to the sixty-first session of the United
Nations Commission on Human Rights in 2005.
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