Sudan Organisation Against Torture

Human Rights Alert: 08 June 2005

Killing and Rape of Women from Kalma IDP Camp

On 31 May 2005, armed militias (Janjaweed) attacked five internally displaced women belonging to the Fur tribe outside Kalma Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Nyala, Southern Darfur State.

The women were attacked whilst fetching firewood 2 km outside the camp. During the attack the militias killed one woman, raped two others and two sustained serious injuries. The details of the women are follows:

Killed: Fatima Abdella Abdel Kareem

Raped: Names Withheld

Wounded: Hawa Seneen (22 yrs) and Khadeeja Soulieman Ahmed (24yrs)

The families of the women have reported the incident to African Union forces inside Kalma IDP camp and to Belail police station.

The injured and rape victims are receiving medical treatment at SOAT’s partner organization in Nyala, the Amel Centre for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Victims.

SOAT strongly condemns the continual attacks and sexual violence perpetrated against women by armed militias whom the government is unwilling or incapable of disarming. SOAT has documented and reported to the authorities numerous cases of rape and sexual violence against women and girls in Darfur. In many of the cases, very little has thus far been done by government authorities to properly investigate allegations or undertake serious measures to end the culture of impunity which allows these heinous acts to continue. There has been flurry of cases which have appeared before the courts in Nyala since the situation in Darfur was referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC). However, when cases have gone before the courts, standards of trial have fallen far short of international standards of fair and impartial trials.

SOAT calls on the government of Sudan to:

Immediately disarm the Janjaweed militias and any other armed militias in the Darfur region;
Immediately cease attacks on civilians and adhere to it commitments under the ceasefire agreement;
To comply with all UN Security resolutions and the UN commission on Human Rights Resolution which explicitly condemns “the continuation of violence against civilians and sexual violence against women and girls”;

Investigate all attacks and rapes of women and girls and ensure that the perpetrators are brought before an impartial tribunal and guaranteed procedural rights at all times;
End impunity for crimes committed against unarmed civilians;
Guarantee respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.

The above recommendations should be sent in appeals to the following addresses:

His Excellency Field Marshal Omar Hassan al-Bashir
President of the Republic of Sudan
President' s Palace
PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 783223

His Excellency Ali Osman Mohamed Taha
First Vice-President
People's Palace

PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 771025

Mr. Mustafa Osman Ismail
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 779383

Dr. Abdelmuneim Osman Mohamed Taha
Advisory Council for Human Rights
PO Box 302
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 770883

Permanent Representative:

His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Elhassan Ahmed Elhaj

Ambassador

Avenue Blanc 47

1202 Geneva

Tel: 022 731 26 63

Fax: 022 731 26 56

Email: [email protected]

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:

Argo House
Kilburn Park Road
London NW6 5LF, UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 7625 8055
Fax: +44 (0)20 7372 2656
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.soatsudan.org