Sudan Organisation Against Torture

Human Rights Alert: 13 December 2005

Dereig IDP Camp: Abduction; Torture and Rape of IDPs

On 09 December 2005, armed militias in military uniform allegedly the Janjaweed abducted five women from Dereig Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Nyala Town, Southern Darfur State. The women were abducted at 3 pm whilst outside the camp in Aouwa Jalsa village, 5 km North of Dereig Camp. The women were eventually released at 7.30 pm.

During the detention, the women were beaten with sticks and hands; three of the women aged between 20 yrs and 27 yrs were raped by the militias and two of the women were attacked on their heads with an axe. All the women sustained serious injuries and were referred to Nyala hospital by SOAT partner organisation in Nyala, Amel Centre for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture. The details of the women raped are withheld; details of the women attacked with an axe are as follows,

1. Meryem Taha Abdel Aziz, (45 yrs), Dajo tribe

2. Haja Mohamadain Ahmed, (37 yrs), Dajo

The incident has been reported to the African Union. Amel Center is following up the medical treatment of the women and lawyers from SOAT network have launched legal proceedings on behalf of the women.

In a separate incident, on 11 December 2005, armed militias in military uniform riding camel allegedly the Janjaweed abducted and raped an IDP outside Dereig IDP Camp. The woman (name withheld) was abducted whilst fetching firewood with other women outside the camp. She was later released after the militias raped her.

The woman received medical treatment in a clinic in Otash IDP camp, 3 km East of Dereig Camp.

The incident has been reported to the police in Otash IDP camp as there is currently no police station in Dereig Camp.

SOAT strongly condemns the pervasiveness of sexual violence perpetrated against women and girls in Darfur. Despite numerous UN Security Council Resolutions and the presence of AU troops in Darfur, the targeting of women and girls by government sponsored militias continues with impunity. On 4 December 2005, armed militias reportedly the Janjaweed attacked two women from Kalma IDP camp, Nyala, Southern Darfur State. The IDPs were flogged all over their body and beaten on their heads, backs and arms with the butt of guns. The militias also abducted one woman, Mona Ibrahim Salih, (22 yrs), Fur tribe whose whereabouts continues to be unknown.

SOAT calls on the Government of Sudan to:

Investigate the abduction, rape and torture of all women; and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice;
Identify and bring to justice all security apparatus militias responsible for sexual gender based violence in Darfur;
Immediately take all steps required to prevent attacks, threats, intimidations and any other form of violence against women in Darfur;
End impunity for crimes committed by security officers and government proxy militias in Darfur;
Ensure respect for rights to fair trial and to legal appeal in accordance with international human rights standards, for all detainees throughout Sudan;
Guarantee respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout Sudan in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.

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

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

His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit

First Vice-President
People's Palace

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

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

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

Mr. Lam Akol Ajawin

Minister of Foreign Affairs
PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 779383

Mr. Al Zubeir Beshir Taha

Minister of Interior
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