Author: DWAG Communication

9 February 2017

 

 

Member States of the UNSC
United Nations
New York

 
Your Excellencies,

 
Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG) and the undersigned would like to express our deep concern about the recent massacres against civilians in Nertiti, Jabel Marra, Central Darfur, and El Geneina West Darfur. We are particularly concerned with the continuing surge of violence that has killed countless men, women and children and devastated lives in Darfur, Sudan for more than 14 years. We are equally appalled by the lack of independence and transparency in the investigations of these incidents, a continuing and unfortunate trend regarding violent crimes committed against civilians in the area.

 
As you may have learned, on 1 January, Sudanese government forces invaded the city of Nertiti and committed a brutal massacre, slaughtering 10 innocent civilians and injuring another 60 people. Among the victims were several young children and the only doctor in the city, whose job was to save lives. On that same week, another tragic attack took place in El Geneina. On this occasion, 5 people were killed. Sadly, to date there has been no investigation or accountability regarding either incident.

 
We are disheartened by the continuing inaction of the international community regarding credible reports of the use of chemical weapons in Darfur. According to a report by Amnesty International, published in late 2016, over 250 civilians, the majority of whom were women and children, were killed by an aerial bombing of mysterious substances. The Sudanese government continues to deny access to the area for independent investigation while victims of the attack remain in need of urgent medical attention. Our contacts on the ground within the affected communities have reported that victims of such attacks are still suffering from skin breakage, vomiting, loss of vision and other symptoms as a result of the chemicals. As Sudan is a party to the Chemical Weapons Convention since 1999, we urgently call on the UN and the OPCW to investigate these allegations immediately.

 
Your Excellencies

 
The United Nation African Union Mission (UNAMID) troops were on the ground when these attacks took place, and in many instance not far away the crime scenes. UNAMID has constantly failed to protect civilians and to provide adequate reporting of incidents, which allows the government of Sudan to manipulate the situation, dilute the truth and restrict the flow of humanitarian assistance to the needy.

 
The renewed attacks in Nierteti and El Geneina are not isolated incidents but part of the ongoing and systematic attack that the Sudanese government has been perpetrating against specific groups in Darfur for more than 14 years. Violence has soared since 2016, with unprecedented aerial bombings that have driven well over 400,000 people out of their homes, many of whom remain trapped in the mountains. All the while, the government of al-Bashir has constantly denied these victims access to lifesaving humanitarian assistance.

 
We are deeply concerned that UNAMID and other United Nations’ (UN) agencies have failed to provide an accurate account of the number of violent deaths in Darfur as these attacks continue. The UN has also failed to document the exact number of incidents of sexual violence against women and of displaced people and communities. The inaction of the UN, and subsequent lack of data and pressure have resulted in insufficient humanitarian aid, a free pass for perpetrators and lack of justice for victims. We look to you, Mr. Secretary General and Mr. President, to ensure the UNAMID delivers on its mandate.

 
Your Excellencies, the ICC had indicted President al-Bashir for the world’s worst crimes – genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity – yet he continues to carry on his genocidal policy against the people of Darfur. He has exercised ruthless barbarity and cruelty; his soldiers systematically use rape as a weapon of war. Despite more than 40 resolutions by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Darfur and the fact that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued five arrest warrants for individuals responsible for the genocide and other crimes in Darfur, Sudan has refused to fulfill its commitments to international treaties related to human rights and to demonstrate respect for the rule of law.

 

 

Furthermore, Sudan has continued to defy justice and to undermine the authority of the UNSC by flouting its obligation to cooperate with the ICC, while continuing to undermine the authority of the UNSC with impunity.
Accordingly, we the undersigned call on the UN leadership, the UNSC and its Member States to match their words with actions to hold Sudan accountable. It is imperative that the international community hold the Sudanese regime accountable for violating fundamental international norms, not only in defense of the civilian population of Darfur but in the name of all humanity. We urgently petition the United Nations and in particular the UNSC to IMMEDIATELY take the following measures to end violence, protect civilians, and restore the dignity of the people of Darfur and Sudan at large.

 
We, the undersigned, ask that the UNSC act IMMEDIATELY to:

 
● Impose measures to ensure that the Sudanese regime and its sponsored militias immediately cease the criminal aerial bombardment of civilian areas in Darfur and throughout Sudan, including South Kordofan and the Blue Nile.
● Demand immediate access to the areas affected by the use of chemical weapons for an independent investigation and medical treatment to victims.
● Launch a professional and independent task force with expertise in sexual and gender-based violence to conduct an investigation into crimes of sexual violence, including alleged abuses in Tabit and other parts of Darfur and provide physical and psychological treatment for the victims of the ongoing sexual violence.
● Impose measures to ensure that the Sudanese regime allows unhindered humanitarian access and medical assistance to all people in Darfur and throughout Sudan.
● Impose measures on Sudanese regime and its armed forces, military intelligence, and allied militias to stop all war crimes and other serious abuses – including attacks on civilians, harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and restrictions on the freedom of movement of humanitarian aid workers.
● Demand that all military personnel, regardless of rank, implicated in abuses – including as a matter of command responsibility – are held fully accountable.
● Impose travel bans and freeze assets on individuals responsible for crimes committed in Darfur, particularly the use of chemical weapons, violence against women, mass killing, continued obstruction of peacekeepers, and denial of humanitarian assistance.

 
The suffering and oppression of the people of Darfur and Sudan have continued for far too long – especially for women and girls who have not only survived genocide but also rape. It is time for the UN and in particular the UNSC to fulfill their Charter responsibilities in order to ensure that civilians are protected, perpetrators are held accountable and the people of Darfur can voluntarily return to their lands, in the name of lasting peace, justice and human dignity. Those who commit genocide, use chemical weapons and rape as “normal” tools of war are morally and legally reprehensible. According them normal protocols as Heads of State and Government delivers the message – not only to al-Bashir but to other war criminals around the world — that the international community will accept such crimes without meaningful consequences. It is an erosion of customary international law and an attack on our common humanity that the United Nations must not allow to continue any longer.

 
We would be grateful if you would circulate this letter to all Member States of the Security Council.

 
On behalf of the survivors of genocide and sexual violence in Darfur and on behalf of all those who seek peace and justice in Darfur and in Sudan, We assure Your Excellencies of our highest consideration.

 
Sincerely, the undersigned.

 
Niemat Ahmadi, President
Norrie Kurtz, Chair of the Board
Darfur Women Action Group
Washington DC, United States

 
Lauren Fortgang and Diane Koosed
Never Again Coalition
Portland, OR, United States

 
Abdalmageed Haroun
Human Rights and Advocacy Network for Democracy (HAND)
Brooklyn, NY, United States

 

 

Dr. Jacky MAMOU, President
Collectif Urgence Darfour
Paris, France

 

 

Darfur Union in the Netherlands
Utrecht, The Netherlands

 

 

Stop Genocide Now
Redondo Beach, CA, United States

 

 

Greg Stanton, President
Genocide Watch
Washington DC, United States

 

 

Al Sutton M.D.
African Freedom Coalition
New York, NY, United States

 

 

Ismail Adam
Darfur Association of Canada
Toronto, Canada

 

 

Drar Adam Drar, Secretary General
Face Past for Future Foundation (FP4F)
Kampala, Uganda

 

 

Martha Boshnick, Co-chair
Darfur Interfaith Network
Washington DC, United States

 

 

Debra Dawson
African Soul and American Heart
Fargo, ND, United States

 

 

Ahmed H. Adam, Sudanese Scholar
United Kingdom

 

 

Daowd Salih, Co -Founder/Board President
Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy
Charlottesville, VA, United States

 

 

Ibrahim Ahmed
Beja Organization for Peace and Development
Herndon, VA, United States

 

 

Eileen Weiss, Co-Founder
NY Coalition for Sudan
New York, NY, United States

 

Sharon Silber, Co-Director
Jews Against Genocide
New York, NY, United States

 

 

Mahjob Abdalla
Darfur Diaspora Association
Mississauga, Canada

 

 

Emily Bove, Executive Director
Women Thrive World Wide
Washington DC, United States

 

 

Esther Sprague
Sudan Unlimited
San Francisco, CA, United States

 

Motasim Adam
Darfur People’s Association of New York
Brooklyn, NY, United States

 

 

Olivia Warham, MBE Director
Waging Peace
London, United Kingdom

 

 

Eric Cohen, Co-founder
Act for Sudan
Boston, MA, United States

 

 

William Rosenfeld, Director
Coalition for Darfur
Boston, MA, United States

 

Susan Morgan, Co-founder
Investors Against Genocide
San Francisco, CA, United States

 

Dr. Ali Dinar, President
Darfur Alert Coalition
Philadelphia, PA, United States

 

Dr. Mahamoud Braima
Darfur Association
Baton Rouge, LA, United States

 

 

Adam Omer, President
Darfur Association
Lincoln, NE, United States

 

Bakheit Shatta, President
Darfur Community Association
Omaha, NE, United States

 

Elfadel Arabab, Director
Fur Cultural Revival
Portland, ME, United States

 

Abdelhameed Ali, Chairman
Fur Solidarity
Baltimore, MD, United States

 

 

Bijan Razzaghi

The Government of Sudan has long used aircraft to bomb villages in Darfur, killing thousands of civilians and displacing millions of innocent people. In an attempt to limit Sudan’s ability to continue attacking Darfuris, in 2005 the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) imposed an Arms Embargo that prohibits countries from supplying Sudan with weapons. Unfortunately, China has consistently ignored the UN’s directive and its obligation as a member state and has consistently provided bomber planes to the Sudanese government.

In my research as a Policy Intern and Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG), I found that China has recently committed to selling to the government of Sudan six new combat aircraft made at the Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation. The aircraft are of the make and model FTC-2000 and will replace aircraft A-5 and F-7, which have been used in Sudan since the 1990s.

The new FTC-2000s were designed as light trainer-attack aircraft, and have the capability of flying many hours and with more frequency than existing Sudanese aircraft. Such characteristics can enhance Sudan’s ongoing genocidal campaign and are a potential risk for the people of Darfur. These aircraft will enable the Sudanese government to execute more frequent attacks on Darfuri villages, and for longer periods of time.

A delivery date for the airplanes has not been set, but it will likely happen in 2017. The planes will probably be exchanged for Sudan’s most precious natural resource and China’s most pressing need – oil. However, it does not matter how Sudan will pay China for the product. The deal is still a violation of the UN’s Arms Embargo on Sudan.

This is not the first time that China has aided Sudan’s Military and, consequently, contributed to the genocide in Darfur. For this reason, an accountability mechanism must be applied for both perpetrators alike – not only the genocidal government of Sudan but also for its allies. The Chinese government must be held accountable for providing the planes used to attack civilians.

For the second time this week Sudanese civilians have been attacked in Darfur first in Nertetiti and now in El Geneina. The latest attack was in the capitol of the West Darfur State at least seven people are believed to have been killed including a prominent doctor Dr. Zakaria Yahya Ishag. The attack also resulted in the looting of livestock of that locals direly needs for their survival. The attack reported involved the use of hand grenades described by locals as “hand bombs” and heavy weapons these were likely acquired by the regime’s military. This comes seven days after the attack in Nertetiti that left 11 civilians killed many of them children.
Both attacks represent blatant disregards for human life and the well being of the Sudanese people as well as a breach of international human rights laws that prohibits attack against civilian population. This brings the total number of civilians in Darfur killed this year to 18 in the first 6 days of the year. These actions might unfortunately be just the beginning of things to come.

 

The recent attacks on Nertiti and Elgeniena are not isolated incidents; it’s apart of the government of Sudan’s systematical violence against civilians that the people of Darfur had to endure for well over fourteen years. Because of lack of accountability, Omar al-Bashir ‘s regime in Sudan has become emboldened to carry out more deadly attacks directly against civilians in particular throughout 2016 and as recent as September 2016 when Amnesty International reported they conducted 30 gas attacks against civilians throughout Jebel Mara, where women, men and children are still suffering with no medical treatment. It is time for action to be taken to stop the human suffering, hold the regime accountable and limit there ability to continue harming civilians. International community and the United State must make it clear to al-Bashir that he can’t continue slaughtering his own civilians and that his crimes can’t go unpunished.

DWAG President Niemat Ahmadi and team members attended the ICC prosecutor’s 24^th report on the Darfur case to the United Nations Security Council. During the briefing, ICC reinforced its commitment to arrest President al-Bashir for war crimes and genocide.

Carla Ruas

“What are we to say to victims who continue to suffer in Darfur?” Gambian lawyer Fatou Bensouda, a prosecutor with the International Criminal Court (ICC), asked the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) last Tuesday, December 13. Ms. Bensouda was briefing the council for the 24th time about the the ICC’s ongoing investigation into the genocide in Darfur. And in the process, she wanted to know why they had not done more to help her office seek accountability. “Victims, including some that I h­ave met personally, are puzzled and dismayed by the council’s lack of action,” she stated.

Ms. Bensouda’s impatience is justified. The Darfuri genocide has been ongoing for 13 years and civilians have had little relief from the dire situation inflicted by the Sudanese government. Women and girls continue to suffer rape and sexual assaults. Civilians remain in Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps far away from their homes. And men who oppose the government are summarily tortured and executed on a daily basis. “Time may lapse, but time does not erase the fact that serious crimes have been committed in Darfur,” the prosecutor stated, as members of the council and Sudanese activists in the audience listened attentively.

Since April 2016, according to Ms. Bensouda’s investigation, the situation has actually worsened in parts of Darfur. In the mountainous area Jebel Marra, hundreds of civilians have been victimized by government aerial bombardments. Also, a recent report by Amnesty International has indicated that the government may have deployed chemical weapons in the region earlier this year. At least 250 people, including children, have died due to the exposure to such chemicals. (Ms. Bensouda reassured the council that her office is investigating the allegations and working to prove the attacks, in spite of the Sudanese government’s efforts to isolate the region.)

As the situation worsens, so does the impunity for those responsible for the genocide. The ICC has issued five arrest warrants against Sudanese government officials accused of committing crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide in Darfur. According to Ms. Bensouda, all five suspects are still at large, and three of these men continue to have a prominent position in the Sudanese government. One of them, of course, is President al-Bashir, whose arrest warrant was issued a staggering eight years ago.

The prosecutor was not afraid to criticize the ICC member states and UNSC member states for not making an effort to arrest al-Bashir as he crosses international borders unimpeded. Since March 2009, the president has traveled on 131 occasions to attend events ranging from presidential inaugurations to international sporting events. On 14 of those occasions, al-Bashir traveled to ICC member states, and in 117 to non-member states. “His movements are traceable. The world knows where he is and where he travels to, often in advance, from the media. There is ample opportunity for Mr. al-Bashir to be apprehended if the political will exists among states and this council,” she pleaded.

Ms. Bensouda reminded those present that the ICC is only a judicial pillar; therefore, it has no police power. According to the United Nation’s Rome Statute, the states must reinforce the court’s decisions. And such reinforcement is not optional. South Africa, for instance, has recently been called to explain its refusal to arrest Mr. al-Bashir during his visit to the country in June 2015. However, let us not forget that the UNSC has its own share of responsibility in this case. Lack of action from the council has no doubt encouraged many states to host President al-Bashir without fear.

After the presentation, council members were asked to give their opinions about the report.

The overwhelming majority of members (including five permanent
members China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) expressed an unwavering support for the court and raised extreme concern about the escalation of violence in Darfur. Some states reinforced the urgency to act by referencing the ongoing sexual violence against women and girls in Darfur, where rape is often used as a weapon of war: “Attacks on civilians and sexual violence continue and must be brought to an end. We urge parties to resort to dialogue to achieve a lasting political settlement,” said the representative from Malaysia. Others expressed concern about the use of chemical weapons by the Sudanese government. “The use of chemical weapons should push this council to act even more,” said the representative from France.

Egypt, Angola, and China’s members sided with the Sudanese government, which was no surprise for the council, the prosecutor and us.

Lastly, the government of Sudan issued their own statement on the matter, shamelessly describing the prosecutor’s report as “pointless monologue and blatant lies.” The Sudanese representative claimed that there is peace in Darfur since September 2016, when in reality, Sudan continues to attack the Nuba Mountain and Blue Nile regions, violating the referenced peace agreement. Overall, Sudan’s representative used unprofessional language and made baseless accusations to the court. The statement was undiplomatic in its tune, which shows that the Sudanese government is desperate and lack confidence.

Following the briefing, Ms. Bensouda met with the Darfuri diaspora and NGO representatives who were watching from the gallery. Everyone was very eager to speak to her and show their support. In a passionate conversation, the prosecutor assured the crowd that “in spite of the challenges, my office is committed to continuing investigating and doing whatever is possible to deliver justice to the victims.” On their end, activists (some who came from NY, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C., including our team) assured the prosecutor that they will do whatever it takes to help her office seek justice for victims.

At the end of the day, the briefing renewed the energy of council member to support the people of Darfur and the ICC. Our hope is that the council will go beyond words and actually take action to improve the situation in Darfur. On our part, as citizens, we must continue to speak up and make it clear to our leaders that justice is the only way to end the longstanding crises in Sudan. We must remind our representatives that it is their legal and moral obligation to step up. They must make it clear to al-Bashir that impunity for such heinous crimes is not an option.

Darfur Women Action Group is pleased to mark United Nations’ “International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime”. However, we would like to take this opportunity to call on the United Nations and member states to match their words with actions, and pursue accountability for the heinous crimes committed in Darfur.

We want to remind you that as we speak, violence, rape, arbitrary arrests and torture are devastating the lives of innocent civilians in Darfur. Countless men, women and children lose their lives every day, while the living endure unimaginable suffering and have nowhere to turn. In spite of the alarming rate at which the violence continues, world leaders continue to face the situation in Darfur with silence.Those who have spoken up have not moved beyond words of condemnation.

On this occasion, we would like to add our voice to the United Nations and other international bodies in remembering the past, but also urge world leaders that it is imperative to protect those who are STILL under threat of being killed, raped and dehumanized by genocide.

We urge you to use your voice to remind the United Nations and member states that president al-Bashir of Sudan is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the world’s worst crimes- genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, perpetrated against the people of Darfur. In spite of an arrest warrant issued by the ICC, the mastermind of the genocide in Darfur remains a fugitive, and continues to defy justice.

Please join us in marking this day by taking action. Share our #16Days Survivor Stories with 5-10 people in your network and urge them to demand justice. Also, please donate to our organization to enable us to continue to empower victims to speak for themselves, and to hold the international community accountable for the ongoing genocide in Darfur.

Support DWAG to fight for justice and to speak up for the forgotten people of Darfur. With a collective effort, we can make a difference and permanently end genocide in Darfur and elsewhere.

Thank you,

DWAG team

Lost And Helpless At a Camp In Chad

“My name is Amani E. and I am a refugee from Darfur currently living in the Cary Yary Refugee camp in eastern Chad. I was born in Amboro village, in north Darfur, and I used to work as an elementary school teacher. I loved my job. Now I am a widow, and I raise two beautiful daughters who have lost their dad.

On January 27th, 2004 , our lives changed forever. On that night, a plane dropped bombs on our  village, hitting people’s houses and public buildings such as schools and hospitals. Soon after, ground troops belonging to the Sudanese government and the Janjaweed (government-sponsored militia) came by foot and started shooting everyone and everything that moved – even a plastic bag blown by the wind. They wanted to ensure that the whole village was destroyed.  People started running in different directions, but were hunted down and shot to death. However I try to describe this scene, I certainly will not do justice to the brutality of the attack. Hundreds of people were killed. I lost two nephews, two other immediate family members, and 10 extended family members.

Some of us managed to run to the mountains for safety. Unfortunately, the soldiers followed us and set fire to the mountains. We continued running. Eventually we decided to flee all the way to the neighboring country Chad, where we would be safe. We had to walk for 7 days before we reached a city on the border called Bahai, where we settled. In the confusion, families were separated and many people went missing. We later learned that some people fled to different refugee camps, but most of them were killed.

Our new home was a dry desert with very few trees. It was windy and dusty. Many people felt sick and there was no medicine. We had to improvise in order to survive. We walked took daily walks to a nearby forest, where we gathered wood to make food and straws to use as clothes and sheets. It was much later when the humanitarian organization International Rescue Committee came to us offering basic aid such as food and health assistance. Even then we felt lost and helpless. We had lost everything.

Before the genocide began, life was beautiful and stable. We had limited resources and services, but we were happy. People in my village were productive. They were farmers, owners of livestock, civil servants, teachers, health professionals, and traders. Women were part of every occupation as active members of our community, working hand in hand with men and actively involved in all aspect of daily life. They were productive while still providing for their families. And we were lucky to have extended families that would help each other. Today that has become a distant dream.

Most of our people have now been uprooted from their place of origin, humiliated and  forced to  become homeless. We continue to count our losses, which include our social fabric, our culture and unique values. Life has become very different.  We have been oppressed, subjected to economic and social exploitation, psychological stress and trauma. Darfuri women have suffered unimaginably. Not only have we mourned the loss of husbands, children and loved ones, but also we have lost our power. We went from being productive to being helpless.

The overwhelming majority of the population in camps today are women and children. It is no way to live. We have no home, no property, no privacy and no protection. With many of the men gone to fight, we bear the primary responsibility of providing to our families. But there are limited options to make an income – and they are all risky. We can work in harsh labor, such as manual brick making or construction. Another alternative is to walk daily to the forest to collect firewood or straws to sell in a local market, which puts us at risk of being raped. It is humiliating, but many women have to accept this risk because it is the only mean of survival for their children and families.

Having watched the difficult situation of women for many years, I refused to stay helpless. I started a support group to empower women who live in the camps, and to encourage them to speak up about the dire conditions that they face on a daily basis. I wanted to teach these women how they can (and should) participate in the decision making of their communities, including the peace-building effort. We have been completely absent from all the regional and international peace forums, which is very disappoint to me. We have been sidelined and deprived from our rights to participate in whatever is happening regarding Darfur.

Since the group was created, we have reached out to regional and international actors who are working to bring peace to Darfur, including the British Ambassador, and the United States Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan. We explained to them that Darfuri women are the most affected by the genocide, and yet we are left behind in all the peace efforts. We told them that women are the backbone of our society in all aspects, including economic, political, and social, because of the role that we used to have in our communities, and the new roles that have emerged during the crisis.

Recently we heard some talk about an improved situation in Darfur and the return of many people to their villages. To me that is a big lie. As someone who has lived through all of the crisis and who is still living, the reality is that the conditions that forced millions of people to flee has not improved. In fact, it probably has deteriorated. Sadly, there is still no security in Darfur or any sign of lasting peace. At to make matters even worse, the humanitarian assistance that we use to receive in camps has been dramatically reduced, making our survival nearly impossible.

I would like to appeal to everyone to stand with the women of Darfur, and to help them fight for their rights and to restore their dignity.

My hope for the future is to obtain a master’s degree to continue my work educating women. I also want to educate the next generation of Darfuris, in order for them to have a better future. I hope want to raise my daughters to be strong, and to stand up for their rights and the rights of others. Thank you Darfur Women Action Group for giving me this opportunity to contribute. I hope we will continue to work together to empower women, so that we can all speak in one voice and fight for our rights.”

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TAKE ACTION. Please join us in taking at least one action that will help end violence against women in Darfur:

• Raise awareness by sharing our campaign content on social media, using the hashtags #16Days and #StopRapeInDarfurNow.
• Tag United Nations on social media and demand accountability for the 2014 mass rape in Darfur. Share it with 10 people in your network. Use @UN on Twitter and @UnitedNations on Facebook.
• Donate to DWAG to support a rehabilitation center for women survivors of sexual violence in Darfur.
• Join our Rapid Response Network, a group of community members who are on standby to help us with campaigns and petitions.
• Send a solidarity message that we can share with our supporters and the women in Darfur: communication@darfurwomenaction.org.