of UNAMID in Darfur
Col. Anthony Atolagbe
Conflicts of war have been catalysts for change, devastation and humiliations.
Adversaries have had to use all sorts of strategies to overwhelm the opponents through the use of superior firepower, maneuvering tactics, propaganda. In the course of such conflicts, combatants take advantage of their possession of arms and other weapons to commit atrocities as well as other actions against human beings. There have been so many of these acts, usually perpetrated against defenseless persons, especially women, girls, children, and sometimes men.
International organizations in collaboration with the other concerned bodies have adopted several approaches built on concepts and principles of civilian pro-tection to combat the trend. These approaches are developed towards mitigating demeaning acts like sexual violence. There however, seem to be a situation in which different conflict environment evolves with its own face and trademark.
The conflict in Darfur, which started in 2003, is one that can be best described as complex, due to its multidimensional nature. The government embarked on a counter insurgency operation in Darfur, and the forces on both sides exploited the situation by taking laws in to their hands to commit sexual atrocities. These actions had devastating and long lasting effects on the victims.
The UNAMID has been a major instrument in the front line of the campaign for protection of civilians through prevention and providing responses within its operational capabilities. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to briefly highlight the good and the bad examples of preventions and responses to sexual violence in the Darfur region, which is the UNAMID area of responsibility. In this direction, the aim of the paper is to highlight responses to sexual violence in UNAMID area of responsibility while identifying the challenges. The scope will cover an overview of the Darfur conflict, Efforts of UNAMID and then conclude with the Challenges.
Sexual violence was prevalent in Darfur region during the conflicts in which there were cases of sexual abuses accompanied with destruction to lives and property. Sexual violence was perpetrated by the identified forces, who also viewed their acts as of spoils of war that they needed to enjoy. The victim who rebels is usually rewarded with killing as sexual assault became a strategic weapon to cause panic and awe.
At this point, something immediate had to be done, and a structure put in
place in order to stop this and other violent acts. The African Union Mission was deployed in the midst of this crisis in an effort to protect the innocent ci-vilians, but their spread was limited, due to low number of troops. The AMIS troops were “re-hatted” as the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur. Upon the entrance of the United Nations it was mandated under resolution 1769 to protect civilians, assist humanitarian agencies and assist in the observance of rule of law. The Darfur Peace Agreement exists today, but there only seem to be semblance of the ceasefire, which is broken by any of the parties to the conflict who feels aggrieved, from time to time.
The UNAMID has been able to take necessary steps in the implementation of its mandate toward this direction. Though, highly reduced, acts of sexual violence are still perpetrated on the internally displaced persons, as well as women and girls who embark on their daily routine activities like drawing water and fetching firewood. The records of sexual and gender based violence, thanks to the UNAMID efforts has experienced a remarkable fall. We are well aware that we have Resolutions 1325 and 1820 and the Rome statutes. These have only been of help to those who are advocates and some activists within the country, who have not been able to make serious impact required to put a stop to these activities.
It is necessary to briefly highlight the impacts of sexual violence on the victims. Cognizant of this, we will all find the need to take collective action toward awareness, mitigation, assistance and a final stop to sexual violence across the globe. These impacts are inexhaustible though, and they include victim stigmatization, unwanted pregnancies, child abuse and others like transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. The UNAMID, as the organ of international community, has the mandate to protect civilians in order that the perpetration of this violent act will be stopped. In this direction, UNAMID is organized for the implementation of this mission mandate through its military, civilian and the police units, including female police.
On the efforts of the UNAMID, It will be necessary to discuss this aspect in relation to prevention and response methods. The good examples consider the strength of the military force within our deployment which represents about ninety per cent of the total force that is required. This is based on a contingency plan that was drawn up at the inception and which is subject to regular reviews. These troops cover about 65 per cent of the land area within operations environment. That is, to a large extent, we have access to most of the areas covered by our troops. In these locations, the force provides robust patrols to boost the confidence of the populace and provides support to agencies for humanitarian delivery.
The UNAMID police are also constituted into various units, which include the formed police units and police advisors. The formed police units carry arms and have the task of escorting women into the bushes to fetch firewood and
draw water. Additionally, UNAMID has the police advisors who guide the local policemen and women on international standards. The female elements of the UNAMID police are usually assisting the women in the conduct of their daily routine activities and giving assistance to victims of abuses. UNAMID police has given medical aid in form of quick impact projects to victims of sexual violence who experience pregnancy, VVF and sexually transmitted diseases.
UNAMID also has other awareness programs organized by its authority and sections like the establishment of gender advisory units. This is in collaboration with the Darfur state committee on gender based violence. They collaborate through the organization of gender based violence awareness programs and other social awareness programs.
On the part of the international staff, staff officers, military observers and correction officers, induction training is usually organized in order to create awareness. The induction training is mission specific and provides necessary information on the operations environment that will guide all personnel to be inducted. UNAMID has the conduct and disciplinary units to instill discipline on her staff involved in sexual exploitation.
Taking on some reverse aspects of the responses, we have the Sudan law of 1981. It punishes women who get pregnant outside marriage and you may go to jail if witnesses cannot be produced. This does not allow allegations by victims to be treated under international standard.
The challenges that UNAMID faces on the field include language barrier as the country is Arabic speaking. The mission experiences restrictions by local officials as the mission operates within a sovereign state. When the military and police and other officials embark on patrol, the local officials remark that they were not informed before coming. Victims and their family members do not also want to report the sexual abuse cases because they are scared of repri-sals from the perpetrators. Sometimes women become victims of such attacks while proceeding on visits to other IDPs, and they do not seek escorts to do this.
Also, the cases are under-reported, because people are afraid of arrest in which you might be required to make a proof. The operations environment also lack accessible roads. The mission operates under poor road conditions while the climatic is also harsh. This especially is in cases where patrols by peacekeepers are interrupted by “haboob”, a whirlwind situation accompanied with dust that engulfs the environment for between 3 to 4 hours. Driving in the rain is like in quick sand around the “wadhis” where patrols vehicles get stuck and recovery takes a long time. Thanks to college authority, other speakers and the audience here. It is really a great opportunity.
Thank you.