Women’s priorities Darfur peace process presented to Chief mediator

Women’s Priorities in the Peace Process and Reconstruction of Darfur Presented to the AU Special Envoy and Chief Mediator

Dec 30, 2005 (ABUJA) — The women of the Sudan currently in Abuja, Nigeria, comprising women from the delegations of the Government of Sudan and the two Movements (the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army – SLM/A, and the Justice and Equity Movement -JEM), and a Gender Experts Support Team supporting the on-going Inter-Sudanese Peace Talks on the Conflict in Darfur, early today Friday 30 December 2005, presented to the AU Special Envoy for Darfur and Chief Mediator, Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, a Document entitled “Women’s Priorities in the Peace Process and Reconstruction of Darfur” in a well-attended plenary session chaired by the AU Senior Gender Advisor and graced by the Sudanese Parties, representatives of the Co-mediators, Facilitators and the International Partners.

The Document, in essence a roadmap for getting the women of Darfur from where they currently stand to a situation where they are active agents in their country’s governance and economy, was the outcome of days of painstaking and dedicated work. It represented the common position of these women on the three major issues being negotiated in the on-going 7th Round, namely: Security Arrangements, Power Sharing and Wealth Sharing. Stressing that gender issues could not be treated in isolation from political, developmental, social and other matters, the Document, in its Preamble, highlighted that while Sudanese women constituted 60% of the labour force and contributed immensely to development in all the sectors, their social condition and that of the children had continued to deteriorate under the combined impact of natural disasters and war-induced violence, rape and sexual harassment. Women were ready and poised alongside their men to wage the war for peace not only in Darfur but also in the whole of the Sudan.
Presenting the document, the Coordinator of the Women, Mrs. Safa Elagib Adam said it demonstrated that women are not just victims, but have “a voice and vision for peace” in Darfur and in the Sudan as a whole. Sudanese Women, she added, had “come to back and foster peace and the peace mediation efforts” of the African Union. Mrs Safa Elagib Adam thanked the AU Special Envoy for his repeated calls for women’s effective participation in the peace process, expressed delight that UNIFEM had taken up the call, and expressed the hope that the recommendations contained in the Document would be supported by the Parties and find their way into the resulting peace agreements, which she hoped would be concluded soon to end the suffering in Darfur.

Speaking on behalf of Senator Mobina Jaffer, the High Commissioner for Canada to Nigeria, Mr David Angell underscored his country’s support for women’s inclusion in the peace process, not only because they were major stakeholders in peace, but also because of the immense contribution that they could make. He added that the progress made by women should encourage the Parties to make headway. Women, he said , “have a unique perspective and should play a central role in achieving a sustainable settlement in Darfur.”

Representing the International Partners, the United Nations Representative, Miss Primrose Oteng, noted the quality of the document and welcomed the increased numbers of women at the negotiations, and hoped that their visions would be reflected in the negotiations and the resulting peace agreements. She indicated that the UN and the International Partners were ready to help in the implementation of the recommendations in any way they could.

The AU Special Envoy, for his part, said the Document was a reflection of the will, aspirations and expectations of the Sudanese women; and a peace message which unified the women of the Sudan, and whose presence in Abuja had provided pressure for the Parties to do more in the peace effort. He again abjured the hiatus between the lip-service paid to women’s equality and the actual reality of women as a largely disempowered and disenfranchised group working hard with very little support, recognition and reward. Dr Salim further said the women by their work, had set an example for others, and exhorted them to continue their quest for peace upon their return home. He commended them for the Document, which, he promised, would be given the widest possible publicity, and should be reflected in the discussions and conclusions of the three Commissions established in the context of the current Round of Talks.

The AU Special envoy thanked UNIFEM, Canada, Norway and Sweden for making it possible for the Gender Experts Support Team to participate in the Talks and for providing gender needs.

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