Category: Blog

Darfur Women Action Group and 22 Co-Signatories Delivered a Statement to Member States of the ICC and the UNSC

By: Marquale Royster, Policy Associate

Read the full letter here. 

The Assembly of State Parties (ASP) hosted its Sixteenth Annual Session over a ten-day period from December 4th-14th. During this session, state parties held several meetings aimed at tackling problems and providing new steps in the direction of improving the function of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ASP made several pivotal decisions that will affect the role of the ICC. Some of the decisions made were in regards to; the ICC’s management and strategic direction, the election of six new judges, the 2018 ICC budget, matters of non-cooperation, the potential activation of the Court’s jurisdiction over the crime of aggression, and a plethora of other critical international topics.

Civil society working on international criminal justice has come from all over the world to participate in the strategy meetings and to organize side events to bring attention to their priority issues. In this context, with numerous meetings being held during the Sixteenth Annual Session, DWAG was able to host a side event with ICC Prosecutor Bensouda successfully. Some of our distinguished panelists were DWAG’s President and Founder, Niemat Ahmadi, Bibiane of The Friends of the Congo, Dr. Elisa Forgery. In addition, this event was cosponsored by The Permanent Missions of Switzerland to the UN, The Netherlands to the UN, and Costa Rice to the UN. The event was geared towards accountability for sexual and gender-based violence, which has been used as a weapon of war and to bring attention to women’s resilience and leadership in fighting against violence.

Ms. Ahmadi, as well as the rest of DWAG’s team, has facilitated the participation of about 50 activists and representatives of the Darfuri community from DC, NY, Philadelphia and New Jersey. They all participated in the ICC prosecutor’s briefing to the UNSC and the side event organized by DWAG to ensure their voices are heard, as well as to show their support for the ICC prosecutor as she delivered her 26th report on Darfur to the UNSC members.

During the briefing, the overwhelming majority of the UNSC member expressed their concerns about the situation in Darfur and strongly reiterated their country’s commitment to the ICC and to ensuring that those who committed crimes in Darfur are held accountable.

The event with the prosecutor is not the only course of action the Darfur Women Action Group and is partners took. While in New York for the ASP session, DWAG and its twenty-two co-signatories delivered a statement to member states of the ICC and the UNSC. In the statement, DWAG and co-signatories expressed their concerns on the ongoing atrocities in Darfur and Sudan at large and stressed for the urgent need for strong accountability measures for heinous and egregious crimes. The people of Darfur have suffered for more than a decade at the hands of al-Bashir and his regime, and it is time that we make progress in the direction of accountability and lasting peace.

In the letter, DWAG and our partners urged the international community to hold al-Bashir and his regime accountable for the crimes committed in Darfur. We also demanded that the international community establishes measures to make accountability more of a priority, which includes providing the ICC the necessary resources for continuing investigations on newly reported crimes. In addition, we asked that the UN seriously consider adopting new mechanisms to enforce ICC arrest warrants on any areas administered by the UN, including its headquarters.

It is imperative that the international community makes it clear to President al-Bashir and all perpetrators of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity that impunity for these crimes will not and must never be an option. The only way to end this reign of terror is to hold perpetrators accountable and bring them to justice. With your help, we can make our voice stronger and demand action; we can compel the international community to take a concert actions, which will bring peace and justice as well as guarantees life with dignity for the people of Darfur and of Sudan who has been yearning for it for decades.

“UNAMID Peacekeepers Collaborate with Sudanese Government and IDPs to Collect Illegal Arms”

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Marquale Royster, Policy Associate

It has been fourteen years since violence first commenced in Darfur. As of late, the Sudanese government has been putting on
a façade in order to convince world leaders that violence in Darfur has greatly reduced. As a result, the United States lifted
economic sanctions against Sudan due to the belief that violence has ceased. However, there continues to be acts of violence
committed against refugees and persons in Internally Displaced Persons(IDP) camps.
Two months ago, Sudanese President al-Bashir made an unprompted and undesired visit to the Kalma Camp in South Darfur,
ahead of the anticipated US decision to lift sanctions on Sudan. His visit made the abuse of the government even more visible
as IDPs were forced to accept his unwanted presence. Many of the IDPs attempted to organize a peaceful protest, but
government forces attacked this demonstration. As a result, three people were killed, and tens were wounded during
protests. During his visits to the South Darfur camps, President Bashir pushed his desire to collect illegal arms in Internally
Displaced Camps in aims to cease violence.
On the outside looking in, the Illegal Arms Collection Campaign seems like an idyllic way to ensure peace. However, the
citizens of Sudan and particularly Darfur have been dealing with the longstanding plight at the hands of the very government
UNAMID is now shamelessly collaborating with. One would ask is this really a genuine concern about violence from a man
who has expended the lives of civilians to remain in power. This so-called arms collection propaganda is another strategy used
by the government to legitimize its long-intended attempt to dismantle the camps. The main cause of violence in Darfur is not
from the helpless displaced people but a destructive government which has already decimated the lives of hundreds of
thousands of civilians.
The fact of the matter is that the Rapid Support Forces are currently being used to implement the collection of arms. They
themselves are notorious criminals who have been committing atrocities throughout Darfur for years. This process only
legitimizes what they have been doing and provides them with a coverup.
Largely, this campaign would put the members of these IDPs camps in more danger and subject them to harassment and
intimidation by the government. The government has already established its violent intimidation on citizens for more than
over a decade. This collection of arms campaign will only give the government an opportunity to abuse its power against those
who reside in the camps.
It’s shocking and dismaying to hear that UNAMID could collaborate with the regime and enable them to further oppress the
innocent civilians under the banner of arms collection which has no basis.
It’s imperative that the international community and the United Nationals Security Council observes what is taking place in
Sudan to avert another catastrophe. The collections of arms campaign will not effectively cease violence if the military forces
such as the Rapid Support Forces are still armed. The international community needs to accept its responsibility by using the
appropriate disarmament mechanism which can be conducted and monitor this very closely by a neutral party that has
neither committed crimes nor has interest in manipulating the situation to its favor. We are all yearning for the day that will
bring a lasting peace to Darfur and Sudan at large. The international community must not assume peace in Darfur can be
brought through the power of the perpetrator but through an effective approach that will grant the people of Darfur peace
with justice.

Janet Addoh

Residents of Kalma camp were thrown into a state of panic and shock when government forces in 200 vehicles including armored cars and rocket launches invaded the camp on November 1st without any form of provocation. This happened barely a month after the United States eased economic sanctions on Sudan and instead of seeing this as a golden opportunity to implement reforms to better the lot of his citizens, President al-Bashir and his regime rather saw it as a green light to terrorize and intimidate the unarmed and helpless civilians living in deplorable conditions in Kalma camp in Sudan.

This is not the first time the lives of displaced persons in Kalma camp have been threatened and even taken by president al-Bashir and his bloodthirsty troops; on September 22,2017, when Kalma camp residents peacefully protested the visit of al-Bashir to their camp, heavily armed government forces fired live bullets into the crowd and killed five innocent protesters and injured 26 which attracted the condemnation of the United States.

 

Solution to this crisis should not be limited to verbal or written condemnations by countries. President al-Bashir is the only incumbent president indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and up till now the international community has done little to assist in arresting him but they rather fell for his fake propaganda and narrative that the Darfur crisis is over meanwhile this is extremely contradictory to the brutalities happening on the ground because  Al-Bashir has no respect for the sanctity of life and has therefore never thought of a change of heart neither  have the Janjaweed who have constantly been committing atrocities in Darfur for years and violating the fundamental human rights of Dafuris.

We urge the international community to not look on but rather arise as a matter of urgency and arrest al-Bashir and hand him over to the international criminal court, disarm the Janjaweed and the Rapid Response Forces and extend the mandate of the UNAMID forces to provide adequate protection for the displaced persons.

 

As I go through old photographs of the Women and Genocide Symposium, I look forward to this year’s event.

Last year, I had the privilege of helping to organize DWAG’s 5th Annual Symposium on Women and Genocide: The Case of Darfur, in Washington, DC. As DWAG’S Communication Specialist, part of my job was to make sure that there was a record of the symposium in writing, video, and photographs. Several volunteers and professionals helped me in this important task. But since I have a background in photography, I decided to pick up the old camera and take pictures myself. Now, as I look through the images, I realize that watching the event from behind the camera gave me an opportunity to observe something very special: the emergence of hope.

Throughout the event, I photographed genocide survivors as they shared amazing stories of strength and resilience. When they spoke, a visible flow of emotions took over the room. Speakers embraced one another on the stage. Attendees discreetly wiped away tears from their cheeks. At one point, someone in the audience got up and distributed a bundle of their own tissues. These women’s narratives were obviously very sad – stories of rape, abuse, and persecution. But what I saw through the lens was an entire network of emotional support. The Symposium on Women and Genocide provided a safe space for survivors to share their personal stories in their own terms. It offered a web of solidarity and empathy – something that we so desperately need nowadays.

In between panels, as participants chatted over donuts and coffee, I photographed another interesting phenomenon. Experts met survivors for the first time, students talked to professors about their projects, and activists engaged members of the community. The symposium was the perfect place to network and meet people who are interested in human rights. Through the lens, I saw the beginning of new projects, collaborations, and ideas. I witnessed sparks that could generate solutions for the future. I contemplated a group that has not given up, and that continues to work together to end genocide worldwide.

In 2017, as violence and hate seem to grow daily, to participate in such a meaningful and inspiring event is even more important. I have made a commitment to take part in the symposium again – now the 6^th Annual International Symposium– and I hope that you will join me. As DWAG’s president Niemat Ahmadi always says, “The symposium is not only a forum but a momentum.” Let’s embrace this momentum and build a long-standing movement against genocide. Let’s reinforce the sentiment that we can do better as human beings.

I will be there, and I’ll bring my camera.

Carla Ruas
Communication Specialist

 

 

I was pleased to read the press statement by the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs that the United Nations together with the Sudan Humanitarian Fund have earmarked $21 million for relief work in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile States, however  I was very much disappointed when part of the statement mentioned  the terms “acute watery diarrhea cases” instead of Cholera echoing the statement  consistently made by the government of Sudan to undermine the deadly cholera epidemic .

 

The question is this: Why did the UN refuse to use the correct term for the epidemic? Reports by the Sudan Epidemiological Corporation indicated that, 940 Sudanese lost their lives and 23,930 had been infected by cholera since its onset in August 2016, which  obviously mount to a global health crises,  but the Sudanese government kept on denying its existence and insisted that the residents had “Acute Watery Diarrhea” and instead of the UN coming out to declare a cholera epidemic and invite the international community to join in tackling this crisis urgently, it is rather echoing what the government of Sudan is saying.

 

The people in Darfur are living in deplorable environmental conditions worsened by the longstanding crisis coupled with flooding and insect breeding. The insects facilitate the cholera infection among the community.  Between August 20-August 24 of this year, at least 16 people died of cholera in South Darfur, 17 died in Foro Baranga in West Darfur and 22 infected; 10 in Angu Guti and 7 in Foro Baranga. In North Darfur 128 residents got the infection, 44 of which come from the village of El Sareif. 2 patients lost their lives in El Sareif. Within the same period, Central Darfur recorded 47 hospitalization cases and 5 deaths. In Kalma camp, South Darfur, there were 49 infections, and 4 deaths.  If all these infections and deaths are not manifestations of a cholera outbreak, then what are they?

 

In as much as cholera has been reported in Khartoum and other parts of Sudan, the people of Darfur are the most vulnerable to the epidemic because they are already at the mercy of ongoing genocide, weaponized rape and hunger. Besides, shortage of medical professionals, medicines and intravenous solutions is aggravating the situation.

 

The primary responsibility to protect the people and provide them with decent livelihood is on the government of Sudan and in the face of a crisis that has reached the stage of global crisis, the government of Sudan must make efforts to call for international intervention in order to save the lives of its citizens. While the United Nations is on the ground they must do the right thing by declaring an emergency to ensure that there is an international effort to end this catastrophic disease.

 

It’s morally imperative for the United Nations including the World Health Organization (WHO)and the entire international community, to use the right terms; issuing politically correct statements or using fine words is not helping the situation. The symptoms exhibited by patients of the so-called “acute watery diarrhea” are symptoms of cholera which is confirmed by doctors working on the ground. Its particularly important that the UN comes out and declare a cholera epidemic in Sudan, as the first step to the solution of every problem is the right characterization. This is not about politics it’s about saving lives of the people of Sudan many of whom are already suffering from the long crisis and they have no ability to fight another disastrous disease.

 

What makes the situation worse for Darfuris is that, the current government has blocked operation of foreign relief agencies preventing the WHO from carrying out investigations into the outbreak and also depriving the residents from receiving basic health assistance.

 

I urge our readers to join me in calling on the United Nation’s Agencies and the entire international community to declare cholera epidemic in Sudan and pressurize the incumbent Sudanese government to allow more humanitarian aid especially in Darfur and surrounding states.

 

By: Janet Addoh

Janet currently works as the Special Assistant to the President of Darfur Women Action Group in Washington, DC. She has a Master of Arts Degree in International Policy and Development. She is very passionate about global security, peace, and human rights and committed to fighting for social justice for the vulnerable in Society.

Sources:

UN: $21 million for critical humanitarian aid in Darfur, South Kordofan, Blue Nile

Epidemiological Corporation: 23,930 cholera patients in Sudan

Over the last two days, pictures of tragedy have surfaced on social media. A group of young university students, with only backpacks, a dim sadness on their faces and exhausted from miles of walking on their feet’s to reach the capital of Sudan. It’s the Sudanese authority that has prevented the public transportation to carry them.

Around 1,000 Darfuri students forced to resign from the University of Bakht El Rida in El Duwiem in the White Nile state, this week. Reports from the university indicate that officials consistently harassed Darfuri students. The events at the University of Bakht El Rida highlight the widespread, systematic discrimination against Darfuris in Sudan by the government and its security apparatus for more than a decade. In May of 2017, nine Darfuris were arrested on falls accusations of murdering two police officers without any evidence to back up this serious claim. This sadly not a single incidents other students consistently faced discrimination from pro regime university leaders

The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies cites a police raid on the 9th of May which was targeted towards Darfuri students exclusively, and many reports claim that were often excessive use of force against the student population. This was not the first police raid the university experienced. One on 21 June 2011 left 18 students injured. Reports over the years highlight the abuse these students experienced. There were consistent attacks, leaving many injured and or killed in the wake. Students were also randomly arrested or detained. Students who attempted to fight back and reclaim their right to education were brutally beaten and targeted. Reports from inside the university highlight how officials created a racial discrimination against Darfuri students

As of the 20th of July 2017, the over 1,000 students who resigned en masse were stopped from entering Khartoum. Bus drivers in El Sough El Shaabi in El Duweim were routinely told by government authorities not to transport Darfuri students, leaving students with no choice but to march to the capital on foot to demand the release of the nine students accused of murder. The Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) is preventing the students from entering the capital, in what Amnesty International calls a “callous disregard of their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.” Reports state that the group of students has grown in number, now reaching about 1,500. As they are not able to enter Khartoum, these students are in Sheikh El Yagout in the White Nile state. The Sheikh El Yagout village has been praised by many for providing these students with lodging and other necessities during the plight of these students.

It should be noted, however, that many students did not let this intentional discrimination and miss treatment interfere with their desire to get an education. When buses stopped transporting them, they began to walk. The ultimate outcome should not diminish the bravery these students exemplified; they were consistently trying to overcome the discrimination they faced. Darfuri students organized protests and worked extremely hard to do well in school.

The systematic abuse of the Darfuri population runs too deep, however, and the actions that were taken by these students to end discrimination against them only helped to fuel it. Those who participated in demonstrations or were at the top of their classes were targeted and isolated. Many were accused of crimes with no shred of evidence to back up the accusation.
We should not be fooled by the narrative the Sudanese government is promoting. Violence in Darfur has not decreased, and violence against Darfuris has only become more intense. What happened to these students demonstrates the vile nature of the government’s tactics against Darfuris; these attacks are seeping into their everyday lives with the goal of depriving them of any semblance of a healthy and happy life.
It’s a part of deliberate tactics to weaken the Darfuri societies. When millions are driven out of their home, children can’t go to school, and university students are systematical targeted, what will be the future of Darfur with an entire generation deprived of education

It should be noted that this story is still developing; the 1500 students are still in Sheikh El Yagout trying to get into Khartoum; We must keep an eye to ensure that the government wouldn’t harm them. Trying to fight for their most basic rights, and as they are fighting, they should know that their struggle is not in vain. We must demand accountability for the Sudanese government and its barbaric behavior and human rights violation against students and expose them to the world.

Roksana Verahrami 

Last Friday, as the UN made its decision regarding UNAMID’s funding, the world was once again reminded of the need for UNAMID, despite its past failures.

 

In a wicked and ironic twist, last Friday, the 30th of June 2017, a group of women were raped. While this type of incident is, sadly, very familiar to many in Darfur, it is the following events which showed the determined brutality of the Sudanese armed forces.

 

The incident took place in Golo, Central Darfur, near Jebel Marra. There was a group of women gathering water when army soldier appeared and raped them. Those near the scene tried to aid the women by beating them with sticks. One of the soldiers was killed, and many others were wounded.  After this, the soldiers began to attack people with a bombardment of missiles and bullets. The violence did not stop there; soldiers then proceeded to raid houses and shops and robbed people of their belongings. Witnesses report that soldiers forced several donkey cart owners to transport the stolen goods back to the military garrison of Golo.

 

As of now, there are still many people who are not able to return home. They are living in caves and valleys because they have nowhere else to go. Those involved in the Golo attack are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance, but the possibility of receiving aid is beginning to look more and more unlikely.

 

This type of incident serves us to remind us about the need for accountability and transparency. When an attack this brutal occurs, we need to ensure that nothing like it happens again. However, as this was happening; as a group of women was being raped and innocent civilians saw their homes torn apart; the international community decided to let that be the status quo.

 

The fact that these types of attacks are a reality for thousands of Darfuris reflects a fundamental failure on international community’s part. With our silence, we have let it happen. History is supposed to teach us to learn from our mistakes and to do better; to right the wrongs of those who came before us. The case of Darfur is not an exception. Those who came before us failed, and it is our duty to change the status quo. It is our jobs as citizens to speak up and hold our leaders accountable.

 

Over the years, Darfur has seemed to disappear from the public’s conscious. Reports from mainstream news sources regarding Darfur stopped, after all the situation in Darfur was not new anymore, it became a continuous state, the violence never stopped. Moreover, the violence has not stopped. Every day there are new reports of violent attacks, people killed, women and girls raped, farmers abducted, and the list goes on.

 

While we were not the one committing these acts, we were bystanders in the world’s most successful genocide. The lack of news coverage, the lack of public outrage, it all contributed to the suffering of thousands of innocents. Our silence killed, we should be reminded of that.

 

Moreover, as the UN announced its decision regarding UNAMID’s funding, we should be reminded of our past mistakes, and not just in the case of Darfur. We should remind ourselves of Cambodia and Rwanda and of all the other genocides which have occurred as a result of our silence. Despite what the past as taught us, the UN refuses to learn and instead keeps making the same mistakes.

 

With the UN’s decision to cut back on peacekeeping operations what happened in Golo is likely to occur again; in fact, it is likely that these types of attacks will occur more frequently. The UN needs to realize that they have played into the hands of an indicted war-criminal; the UN has bought al-Bashir’s narrative, one promoting a peaceful and stable Darfur, and that narrative does not have an ounce of truth to it. The Golo attack is a testimony to the fact that government-sponsored violence is a reality in Darfur which contradicting the fictional narrative that states that the situation in Darfur has improved.

 

The fact of the matter is that there are still thousands of people in Darfur who need some humanitarian assistance, and for them, the withdrawal of peacekeepers is practically a death sentence. The UN should be made aware of this fact. They should also look back to the chatter upon which their organization was created and realize that the values which were enshrined in their founding have become nothing more than words on a piece of paper.