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More than 150 women in Zalingei, Central Darfur, took part in a three-day training aimed at raising awareness of the negative health consequences and human rights violations associated with Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The workshop, organized by the African Union - United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), is part of the Mission’s continuing efforts toward strengthening the role of women through the ownership of accurate information, which can be further disseminated in their societies.

The forum, which concluded on 13 November, provided an opportunity for women, including midwives, nurses, female teachers and community leaders, to discuss how they can work as key elements of change and advocacy to combat FGM and other negative practices in their communities related to women’s health.

Addressing the participants, Mr. Andre Mathurin Fouda, a UNAMID human rights officer noted that a “commitment to combating Female Genital Mutilation is symbolic of the effort to strengthen the position of women and women’s rights,” adding that “FGM is a serious violation of human rights, and its elimination would serve to advance human dignity.”

UNAMID is mandated to raise awareness on human rights violations, to establish an enabling environment that will foster the full enjoyment of civil and political rights in Darfur.

               
UNAMID supports reconciliation efforts in North Darfur
The African Union - United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), in its efforts in promoting peace, facilitated a reconciliation meeting between Kutum and Al-Waha representatives, on 12 November, in Kutum, North Darfur.

The meeting, which aimed at highlighting the importance of peaceful co-existence and inter-community dialogue between the two localities, as the only means for overcoming past problems, was attended by executive managers of the localities, the Government’s Military Commissioner and other local officials, in addition to representatives of UNAMID.

As result, the representatives of the two localities agreed to bring the leaders of the seven administrative units in the area to a preliminary dialogue to be held on 27 November to advance the reconciliation process, under the auspices of UNAMID’s Civil Affairs Section.

Violence began in the area on 1 August when the Commissioner of the district of Alwaha, in Kutum town, and his driver were shot dead and his vehicle was carjacked. Later in the day, the official’s vehicle was recovered by Government of Sudan security agents two kilometres from the Kassab internally displaced persons (IDP) camp.

Subsequently, on the same day armed men surrounded Kassab, looted the market, burnt down the Sudanese Police post in the camp and reportedly killed four persons (three civilians and one police officer) and injured six others.

Similar events leading to the deterioration in the security and humanitarian situation occurred the following days in and around Kutum town, Kassab and Fataborno IDP camps, including fighting between the armed elements and Government Forces, as well as looting and displacement of civilians.