Darfur conflict move task of protecting civilians to the UN-rights bodies urge.

The recently signed Abuja Agreement between the government of Khartoum and elements of the armed opposition movements was highly applauded by Arab and African Human Rights Organisations who termed it as a bold move towards establishing lasting peace in the conflict-ridden Darfur.

In a press statement delivered following a workshop held in Casablanca in June 2006, whose theme was "Towards Integrating the Roles of the Arab and African Civil Society for Issues of Peace and Justice in Darfur", the groups were quick to caution that the success of the agreement be conditional on introducing effective mechanisms to monitor the implementation of the Agreement, including ensuring the participation of civil society actors and appropriate regional and international bodies; and that the interpretation and implementation of the Agreement should not be undertaken solely by the Government of Sudan.

The rights bodies also said that it was imperative to resume dialogue with the armed movements which have rejected the Agreement in its current form, in order to reach a compromise that is satisfactory to all parties. Sustainable peace, they said, requires the elimination of the roots of the conflict including tackling the crisis of democracy, participation in political decision-making, ensuring equitable distribution of wealth, support for development and respect for human rights.

They called for urgent strengthening of the operational, financial, and personnel capabilities of the African Union Mission in Darfur (AMIS) in order to carry out the functions assigned under the Abuja agreement in the transitional period, in particular removing the conditionalities attached to the current mandate which prevents AMIS from effectively protecting civilians. They also called for the fulfillment of the Government of Sudan's commitment to quickly disarm the Janjaweed militias, and firmly stand against any threat to the safety of civilians in the region.

They further called for an end to all oppressive security practices against human rights defenders, Sudanesse and international relief organizations in Darfur, developing a range of mechanisms to ensure accountability and justice in Darfur, including full cooperation with the International Criminal Court as well as ensuring a transition to a United Nations mission capable of ensuring the protection of the people of Darfur and winning their trust, while supporting the implementation of the Abuja Agreement.

The workshop was held at the invitation of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), the Moroccan Organization of Human Rights, the Center for Human Rights Studies and Democracy in Morocco and the Darfur Consortium. Participants included 24 Arab and African organizations, a number of international non-governmental organizations, media professionals and academicians. Representatives of the International Criminal Court attended as observers while a representative of the Arab League participated in the opening session. The workshop tackled three main themes: assessment of the Abuja Peace Agreement, protection of civilians and promoting justice and accountability. Detailed recommendations were drawn up alongside an NGO strategy directed at ensuring follow-up to the recommendations including before the African Union, the League of Arab States and the United Nations.

Source: Press statement by Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies in collaboration with the Moroccan Organisation for Human Rights, Center for Human Rights and Democracy Studies- Morocco, and the Darfur Consortium

FEMNET is a member of the Darfur Consortium