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Women Must Play an Integral Role in Peace Process in Darfur

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gina Torry, Coordinator
Tel: 1-212-682-3633
Fax: 1-212-682-5354

Women Must Play an Integral Role in Peace Process in Darfur

19 May 2006

On the occasion of the United Nations Security Council's Mission to Sudan, the NGO Working Group on Women Peace and Security (NGOWG) would like to express its alarm at the worsening situation for civilians in Darfur, Sudan - especially those who have been displaced as a result of continued violence. The NGOWG is gravely concerned by the widespread and systematic perpetration of rape on women and girls.

The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security respectfully asks that the Security Council:

  • Make every effort to ensure that the government of Sudan upholds the rule of law by investigating and prosecuting incidents of sexual violence, and ensuring that all survivors and victims' families are provided with full and meaningful reparations.
  • Ensure that improving the protection of displaced women and girls is a priority. Reports of women and girls being raped during the collection of firewood occur almost daily. This is a problem that can and must be addressed immediately. The NGOWG asks the Council to ensure that national and international security forces provide transportation to firewood collection sites and routinely patrol the routes to them. Fuel-efficient technologies and alternative fuels should be used to lessen the need for firewood. To be most effective, these solutions should be coordinated by one agency, implemented in consultation with displaced women and coupled with income generation activities.
  • Ensure that women play an integral role in all levels of the peace process, in accordance with Security Council resolution 1325, and to insist on women's active participation where this is not happening. We also urge the Security Council to meet with key women's organizations working in this field. For meaningful and effective dialogue to take place, leading representatives from these women's organizations must also be included in joint meetings with United Nations, military, and governmental actors. It is our hope that the Security Council on its mission to Sudan will set this example for others to follow.

Signed Members of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security:

Amnesty International
Boston Consortium on Gender, Security and Human Rights
Hague Appeal for Peace
Femmes Africa Solidarité
United Methodists Women's Division
International Alert
International Women's Tribune Center
Women's Action for New Directions
Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom