On 26 and 27 March 2018, some 100 women from Darfur’s five states, representing the state government, parliamentarians, localities, civil society organizations and internally displaced persons (IDPs) gathered in El Fasher, North Darfur, to attend the Global Open Day on the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security.

The two-day event held under the theme “Women Count for Peace” was organized by UNAMID’s Gender Advisory Unit (GAU) in partnership Ministry of Social Affairs and the State Committees on SCR 1325. The Global Open Day provides a platform for women to discuss and share views on the implementation of UNSCR 1325, and its impact on women in Darfur, as well as the achievements and the challenges in terms of strengthening established mechanisms for the same.

The participants called for increasing women’s participation in the decision making, reconciliation and peace process mechanisms and the establishment of women forum for peace to monitor the implementation of peace in Darfur. Additionally, they urged for the establishment of Gender Advisory Units in all five state and endorsement of the National Action Plan for the implementation of the UNSCR 1325. They also requested endorsing laws that criminalize the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and early marriage.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Yousif Ishag Adam, Representative of the Wali (Governor), North Darfur, expressed the Government’s commitment toward implementing the recommendations related to the UNSCR 1325 and commended the participants for exerting efforts to discuss and explore ways for the implementation of the Resolution.

On his part, UNAMID Joint Special Representative, Jeremiah Mamabolo, stated that women in all situations are concerned about the entire society and urged for their participation in the determination of a solution of peace and stability. Mr. Mamabolo explained that the recommendations of the meeting support progress of peace and development in Darfur.

In her remarks, Ms. Ruth Kibiti, Chief, UNAMID’s Gender Advisory Unit, said that the participants discussed and deliberated to identify key recommendations for the implementation of the UNSCR 1325 and commended the Ministries of social Affairs Darfur’s state for their support to the Global open Day on the Resolution. 

Hikma Adam Musa, one of the participants from East Darfur called for effective implementation of the recommendations, especially those related to the women rights and protection of children across Darfur.