Adopted by the 28th International Congress of WILPF,
2-8 August, Gothenburg, Sweden

Continuing Human Rights Violations in Darfur

1. With deep concern about the violence in the Darfur region of Sudan, especially against women and children,

2. In accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1325, expressing concern that civilians, particularly women and children account for the vast majority of those adversely affected by armed conflict and increasingly are targeted by combatants and armed elements;

3. Recognizing the consequent impact this has on durable peace and reconciliation;

4. Also in accordance with the confirmation of rape as a war-crime in International Law,

5. Noting the recent UN Security Council Resolution 1556;

6. Respecting the importance of the African Union Peace and Security Council for its attempts to urge the Government of Sudan to disarm the militias and to apprehend and bring to justice its leaders who have incited and carried out violations of human rights and international humanitarian law,

7. We emphasize the unacceptability of the innumerable cases of rape and murder of girls and women in Darfur and are horrified by the knowledge of the long-lasting pain of generations of girls and women their children and communities that this creates;

8. We acknowledge the need to support the efforts taken to ease and shorten that pain and to bring hope for their future, therefore pressing the need of the rebuilding of health care, the renewal of education and the safeguarding of the strength of these women to regain their self-respect, their family life, their social status and economic recovery.

9. This concern needs to be put persistently to our governments, international fellow- ngo’s, the UN organizations and other groups of the civil society to co-operatively find practical ways for the above-mentioned support.

10. All sections and members of WILPF are appealed to join.

Background:

On the 30 July 2004 the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1556 on Darfur which passed with two abstentions. Essentially the resolution calls on the government of Sudan to conclude a ceasefire agreement without delay, facilitiate international relief for the humanitarian disaster, endorses deployment of international monitors and an African Union protection force, and urges UN member states to support the efforts led by the African Union. Sudan has until 30 August to comply or economic and political sanctions will be imposed.

On August 5 a Darfur Plan of Action was signed by Mustafa Osman Ismail, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Sudan and by Jan Pronk, special Representative of the UN Secretary General. The assessment at this point is that Sudan is not likely to meet all the stipulations by the deadline.

23 August the UN began taking part in talks convened by the African Union in Nigeria between the Sudan government and the two rebel groups for Darfur region. At the same time, reports indicate that thousands of refugees are still entering Chad and that the humanitarian situation is grim. The Red Cross will begin to airlift equipment in September. The actual situation on the ground in Darfur is uncertain.

Amnesty International has a long report that is excellent: "Darfur: Rape as a weapon of war: sexual violence and its consequences." The report includes investigative information/anecdotes/quotes, but most of all it gives UN resolutions and background and a long list of things that can be done other than foreign military powers like the US using their armies and weaponry. <web.amnesty.org/library/index/engafr540762004>