UN human rights expert to visit Sudan for the first time in a decade
May 11, 2015 (GENEVA) – The United Nations special rapporteur, Rashida Manjoo, will pay a rare visit to Sudan on Wednesday to examine the overall situation of violence against women and girls in the country and gather first-hand information from victims of violence.
She said in a statement Monday that she will meet with those involved in fighting violence against women in the country to assess the situation in conflict and non-conflict areas, including violence against refugee and internally displaced women.
The special rapporteur stressed that “violence against women is a violation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and it continues to be one of the most pervasive human rights violations globally, affecting every country in the world”, adding that internal conflict that has been affecting some regions cannot justify this violence.
The statement pointed that Manjoo, during her thirteen-day visit, will meet with government authorities, civil society representatives and other parties in Khartoum, Darfur, including El Fasher, Tabit, El Geneina and Nyala, as well as in the North/South Kordofan.
The alleged mass-rape of 200 women by the Sudanese army in North Darfur village of Tabit has sparked controversy among the international human rights circles during the past few months.
The Sudanese government has dismissed those claims as completely unfounded.
“I intend to look into the problem of violence against women, its causes and consequences holistically, taking into account all relevant issues affecting women and violence,” the independent expert noted.
The Special Rapporteur will also visit shelters, detention centers and camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs), and she will meet with individual victims of gender-based violence.
“I hope I can contribute to the current discussions and efforts in the fight against violence in the country,” she said.
Manjoo said she is very grateful to Sudan’s government for the invitation to conduct an official visit to the country during what it described as the “crucial period”.
According to the statement, the special rapporteur will hold a press conference on the initial findings of her visit on Sunday 24 May.
Based on the information obtained during the visit, Manjoo’s successor –who will assume office on 1st August 2015, will present a report with final findings and recommendations to the UNHRC in 2016.
Manjoo, a South African, was appointed special rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences in June 2009 by the UNHRC. She is a professor of public law at the University of Cape Town.
(ST)