African women’s group urges UN Security Council to take action on Sudan
June 27, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – 41 African women groups issued a heartfelt plea to the President of the United Nations Security Council for action to protect the civilian population in Sudan, particularly women and girls.
In a letter addressed to Lana Nusseibeh, UAE Ambassador and current Security Council President, the groups highlight the UAE’s dual role as the leader of the Security Council and a member of the Women, Peace, and Security Shared Commitments initiative.
They stress the responsibility that comes with these positions and call upon the UAE to take concrete steps to address the dire situation in Sudan following the eruption of war in Sudan and the Darfur region between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Recognizing the UAE’s status as a signatory to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the women’s group underlines the duty to prevent genocide.
They implore the UAE to fulfil this duty by publicly denouncing the RSF for their involvement in gross human rights violations, including sexual violence, extrajudicial killings, potential war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in West Darfur.
“The SAF must also be held responsible for its role in prolonging this conflict and for failing to exercise its constitutional duty to protect civilians from the heinous atrocities occurring in Khartoum and West Darfur,” underscored the statement.
The RSF elements have been increasingly denounced for war crimes and atrocities against civilians in Sudan since last April.
In Khartoum, they occupied the houses of civilians and looted their belongings and property. Also, civil society groups documented more than 80 cases of rape and gang rape cases.
Violence in El Geneina, West Darfur, potentially reaching genocide levels. RSF and allied militiamen openly target people based on ethnicity. The conflict resulted in 1,100 civilian deaths and 2,000 injuries, including 84 preventable deaths of women due to pregnancy and childbirth.
On Monday, the RSF leader admitted the crimes committed against civilians in Khartoum and announced the establishment of field courts to try the perpetrators of these crimes.
The acknowledgement comes as the RSF abuses have affected many civilians in Khartoum. Thousands of posts on social media tell about theft, looting, confiscation of vehicles etc..
The letter was signed by women regional groups such as Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF), BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights, the New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative (NIGAWD), West Africa and Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) and women groups from African countries.
(ST)