Attempted Rape and Killing of Woman from Kalma IDP Camp

SOAT

At 3pm on 9 March 2005, three women from Kalma IDP camp, 17 kilometres east of Nyala, southern Darfur state were attacked by five armed wearing military uniform. The armed men reportedly attempted to rape the women, and shot dead one of the women, Meryem Abaker Abdel Raheam. The two other women managed to escape the attack and return to Kalma camp.

The women were attacked whilst fetching fire wood, 2 km outside Kalma IDP camp, which is 17 kilometres east of Nyala, southern Darfur state. Meryem Abaker Abdel Raheam (23 yrs) was a member of the Fur tribe, married with three children and living in Kalma camp centre No.7.

SOAT is calling on the Government of Sudan (GoS) to ensure that the attempted rape and murder of Mrs. Meryem will be investigated and that the perpetrators are brought to justice. SOAT is concerned for the safety of the two women who escaped the attack, and calls on the GoS to ensure that they will not be harassed or intimidated.

SOAT condemns sexual violence against women and urges all parties to the conflict in Darfur to cease perpetrating violence against women, and stop all violations of the ceasefire agreement and subsequent agreements. SOAT urges the government of Sudan to:

i- Investigate the death of Mrs. Meryem Abaker Abdel Raheam and bring the perpetrators to justice;

ii- Immediately cease attacks on civilians and adhere to it commitments under the ceasefire agreement;

iii- Disarm the Janjaweed militias immediately and any outlaws operating in the Darfur region;

iv- End impunity for crimes committed by the Janjaweed militias in order to bring them to trial and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;

v- Guarantee respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.

SOAT also urges the United Nations, African Union and the international community to:

– Expand the mandate of the African Union peace keeping forces to include the protection of civilians;

– Investigate allegations of continued attacks on civilians, including allegations of rape or any other form of sexual violence;

– To continue to exert pressure on all parties in the conflict to come to a peaceful settlement

SOAT is an international human rights organisation established in the UK in 1993. If you have any questions about this or any other SOAT information, please contact us:

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