AFRICAN UNION

UNIأO AFRICANA

Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA P.O. Box 3243 Tel: (251 – 11) 551 38 22 Fax: (251 – 11) 551 93 21
Email: [email protected]: [email protected] Website: Africa-union.org

PRESS RELEASE No. 35

7th ROUND OF THE INTER-SUDANESE PEACE TALKS
ON THE CONFLICT IN DARFUR

STATEMENT BY DR SALIM AHMED SALIM, AU SPECIAL ENVOY AND CHIEF MEDIATOR FOR THE DARFUR PEACE TALKS, ABUJA, NIGERIA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

1. The AU Special Envoy and Chief Mediator for the on-going Inter Sudanese Peace Talks on the Conflict in Darfur, Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, would like to take the occasion of the International Women’s Day to reiterate the commitment of the AU to promote and protect the rights of women.

2. Dr. Salim congratulates the women of Darfur, on this occasion and acknowledges their role and contribution towards peace in their homeland

3. He expresses his concern regarding the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation on the ground, which has had a particularly deleterious effect on women, particularly, the gender based violence, indignities and other abuses suffered by the vast majority of women in Darfur

4. He notes with appreciation the fact that gender issues are beginning to feature in the discussions and that women-specific provisions are being incorporated into the texts under negotiations in Abuja

5. He further urges the Parties, as they negotiate, to consider the special situation of women and make provision for the specific needs of women in Darfur and to conclude the negotiations during the 7th Round of the Talks with a Comprehensive Agreement, to end the suffering of many innocent people in Darfur