History of the Conflict

Darfur is located in western Sudan and is bordered by Chad and Libya. The civil conflict that has been raging for the past 7 years has its roots in clashes between various tribes over water and land rights. The factions involved in the fighting are the Janjawid militia, which is affiliated with the Sudanese Government, the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). The story is that the SLA and the JEM were formed in order to deal with the government’s failure to adequately protect villages from poverty and violence.

The United Nations attempts at peacekeeping have been frustrated by the corrupt political landscape, and they’ve been limited to doing their best to keep citizens and aid workers relatively safe. Yet with the Jangaweed (who are reported to be responsible for an overwhelming majority of the sexual violence) ever on the prowl to carry out its mission of controlling the population through fear and violence, citizens of Sudan, especially its women remain in peril.

The Fate of Darfur women

Darfur’s civil war is ripping western Sudan apart at the seams, and its women and children are being murdered, raped, and tortured. It is estimated that over 450,000 people have died with 2.6 million being displaced from their homes and being forced to live in refugee camps in Sudan and Chad. Over 80% of the Internal Displacement Camp (IDP) populations are women and children. Yet even these camps provide no safe haven, within them women are subject to sexual violence at the hand of the militia, without fear of reprisal, for to intervene is certain death. The rate of attacks on the camps is daunting; in one five week period the International Rescue Committee recorded over 200 attacks.

What could be more painful than suffering sexual abuse at the hands of strangers? The stigma that comes with being raped in the Sudanese society. Since Sudan is a Muslim country, under their criminal code women that are raped can be tried for adultery with the consequences of losing being stoning or public lashing. There are instances where women have been shunned by family members and friends- left adrift and even alone in their time of greatest want.

It is yet unknown, exactly how many women and young girls have been raped, kidnapped, or subjected to abuse. What is well known are the aftereffects of this unchecked violence upon the women and young girls of Darfur- sexually transmitted diseases, abandonment by family, unwanted pregnancy, mental stress, and poverty. To make matters worse, female genital mutilation, a common practice in Sudan, can cause severe bleeding and tearing in the event of rape, causing women to bleed to death or die from painful infections.

Ways to get involved

The International Criminal Court has indicted the Sudanese president, Omar-al-Bashir and two of his government officials for war crimes. Yet still, he was reelected in the recent elections, which reportedly were tainted from the outset. While waiting for the creaky wheels of justice to turn via President Bashir’s trial, women in Darfur are suffering horrible atrocities every day.

There are many ways that you can contribute your time, energy, and/or money to assist in bringing an end to a war that has seen almost unprecedented violence against women and children. Here are a few sites to check out to get started:

• Instant karma is a collection of famous artists you have gotten together and recorded music for downloads. All of the proceeds are going to Amnesty International’s Save Darfur campaign. Order the album or just download the songs you like.

• Visit the site at Amnesty International where you can donate, volunteer, educate yourself or even start a local movement of your own

• Donate to the International Rescue Committee, which has been on the ground helping women in Sudan with medical and economic assistance since 1981.

• Save Darfur.org is a site dedicated solely to provide relief and rescue to the hundreds of thousands of displaced women and children. You can support the cause by signing up for action alerts that represent petitions and letters being sent to politicians and international organizations along with donating or simply by purchasing a save Darfur t-shirt.

• Globe For Darfur is an international site that allows you to access a variety of humanitarian agencies that are striving to make a difference. Sign petitions, donate, or write letters.

The indomitable strength the women and young girls of Darfur exhibit in the face of their circumstances is communicated via their heart-stirring stories of suffering from unimaginable violence and yet continuing to persevere- in spite of. Remember, if one of us suffers at the hands of violent sexual abuse society as a whole suffers. Act now to work towards ending the needless suffering in Darfur.