Coalition Urges Darfur Focus During Security Council Session on Women, Peace and Security

Save Darfur: ‘The women of Darfur...have a long history of cultural and civic leadership. Their continued abuse aims to destroy their ability to resolve the conflict and rebuild their communities.'

WASHINGTON - As the United Nations Security Council today convenes a special session on women, peace and security, the Save Darfur Coalition urged the council to address the increasing violence in Darfur - specifically the endemic violence against women - and affirm its commitment to an inclusive peace process.

In a letter delivered to all members of the Security Council, Save Darfur Coalition board chair Rev. Dr. Gloria White-Hammond recalled the historic Security Council Resolution 1325, passed unanimously in October 2000, which asserted the council and U.N. member states' resolve to address the impact of war on women. White-Hammond applauded the council's work to highlight the necessary role of women in peacekeeping and peacemaking but underscored the coalition's disappointment in the council's failure to meaningfully address the role of women in previous attempts to mediate a peaceful solution to the conflict in Darfur.

"The women of Darfur - like women elsewhere - have a long history of cultural and civic leadership. Their continued abuse aims to destroy their ability to resolve the conflict and rebuild their communities," wrote Rev. White-Hammond. "As you are aware, the Sudanese government and its proxy militias use scorched earth counterinsurgency tactics. Rape and sexual violence are a central component of their campaign."

To affirm their commitment to an inclusive Darfur peace process, White-Hammond called upon the council to use today's meeting to discuss the prevalence of sexual violence in Darfur; issue a resolution outlining mandatory, specific measures to address violence against women; and impose targeted sanctions against Sudanese officials and individuals responsible for orchestrating and promoting sexual violence. In addition, the letter outlined specific steps to ensure that the UNAMID civilian protection force is properly trained to prevent sexual violence and assist victims of it.

The full text of the letter appears below:

June 19, 2008

To Members of the Security Council

Your Excellency:

On behalf of more than 180 U.S. faith-based, advocacy, and human rights organizations in the Save Darfur Coalition, we urge you to intensify your support for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Darfur.

On Oct. 31, 2000, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 1325 following a historic open session on women, peace and security. The resolution asserted the council and U.N. member states' resolve to address the impact of war on women. It acknowledged women's essential contribution to peaceful and sustainable conflict resolution. As then Secretary-General Kofi Annan said, "Women, who know the price of conflict so well, are also often better equipped than men to prevent and resolve it. For generations, women have served as peace educators, both in their families and in their societies. They have proved instrumental in building bridges rather than walls. They have been crucial to preserving social order when communities have collapsed."

The women of Darfur - like women elsewhere - have a long history of cultural and civic leadership. Their continued abuse aims to destroy their ability to resolve the conflict and rebuild their communities. As you are aware, the Sudanese government and its proxy militias use scorched earth counterinsurgency tactics. Rape and sexual violence are a central component of their campaign.

Five years of living in constant fear of systematic sexual violence has intensified the breakdown of security throughout Darfur. The widespread use of rape during attacks on civilians continues unabated, while opportunistic sexual violence has risen within the deteriorating humanitarian situation. Violence against women creates both immediate and long-term instability. The Sudanese government exploits and purposefully aggravates violence against women to hinder reintegration, familial stability and peace. Sudan's complicated and risky legal process offers impunity for perpetrators.

We applaud the council's work to highlight the necessary role of women in peacekeeping and peacemaking. But we are disheartened by the failure to meaningfully address the role of women in previous attempts to mediate a peaceful solution to the conflict in Darfur.

On June 19, the Security Council is again holding a special session on women, peace and security, this time to specifically address violence against women in armed conflict. We urge you to use this opportunity to address the increasing violence in Darfur - specifically the endemic violence against women - and affirm your commitment to an inclusive peace process.

Specifically, the Security Council should:

Use the June 19 meeting to discuss the prevalence of sexual violence in Darfur.

Following the June 19th meeting, issue a resolution outlining mandatory, specific measures to address violence against women. The Sudanese government should be required to issue clear, public instructions in the form of a presidential decree to all members of the Sudanese armed forces and to promptly investigate and prosecute acts of sexual violence.

Impose targeted sanctions against Sudanese officials and individuals who are responsible for orchestrating, sanctioning and promoting sexual violence.

Support the deployment of well-trained female soldiers, civilian police, investigators and translators to every station of the United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force, known as UNAMID, with the goals to prevent sexual violence and assist victims of it. There should be a fully staffed and operational gender unit with a presence in all three Darfur states.

Ensure that all troops in UNAMID receive training in gender sensitivity and gender-based violence prevention and response prior to deployment. Member states training African troops should integrate gender sensitivity and sexual violence prevention and response training into the programs.

Ensure that member states and every country contributing troops to UNAMID individually pledges to investigate and, when appropriate, prosecute to the fullest extent of its national law peacekeepers responsible for rape or sexual exploitation.

Issue clear, public instructions that women's involvement in the peace process is imperative and design a comprehensive approach to their inclusion. The U.N. must ensure that women - as negotiators, not observers - are a significant portion of every peace talks delegation.

Resolution 1325 illustrates that the Security Council recognizes that sustainable peace is inextricably linked to the equal inclusion of women. By taking these steps, the Security Council will act on that recognition to help reach a lasting resolution to the conflict in Darfur.

Sincerely,

Gloria White-Hammond

Chair, Board of Directors

Save Darfur Coalition