Rape and attack in Darfur
SOAT
On 14 June 2005, six armed men in military uniform attacked a passenger bus travelling between Mahagriya to Nyala town. The men robbed the passengers of money and beat the passengers including two elderly women and female child. Two of the armed men raped a 16 year old girl (name withheld) from the Zaghawa tribe who was travelling with her brother.
After the attack, the passengers carried on with their journey to Nyala. In Nyala, the 16 year old girl reported the rape to the police who sent her to the Police hospital for medical examination. The doctor who examined her concluded that no rape had taken place under Form 8.
Following the police refusal to file a case, the victim’s brother took her to receive medical treatment at SOAT’s partner organization in Nyala, the Amel Centre for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Victims. As part of its rape documentation, the Amel Centre referred the victim to a consultant Gynaecologist for medical examination. The medical report confirmed that the girl had been raped and had sustained physical injuries. The victim is currently receiving medical treatment at the Centre.
SOAT strongly condemns the continual attack and sexual violence against women and girls in perpetrated by and under the control of government agents which the government is either unwilling or unable to disarm.
SOAT calls on the government of Sudan to:
– Investigate all attacks and rapes of women and girls and ensure that the perpetrators are brought before an impartial tribunal and guaranteed procedural rights at all times;
– End impunity for crimes committed by the government security forces;
– Immediately cease attacks on civilians and adhere to it commitments under the ceasefire agreement;
– To comply with all UN Security resolutions and the UN commission on Human Rights Resolution which explicitly condemns “the continuation of violence against civilians and sexual violence against women and girls”;
– Guarantee respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.
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