More than a decade since the fighting broke out, the situation in Darfur continues to be characterized by a lack of human security. Displaced women and girls are perceived to be at greater risk than other conflict-affected populations as their insecure living conditions render them susceptible to sexual and gender-based violence as well as physical assault, harassment, intimidation, extortion, and so forth. Additionally, women’s health has often been threatened by harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation and early marriages. Moreover, their limited participation in community-protection mechanisms deprives them from vocalizing their concerns.

In Darfur, the increasing attention paid to displaced women in the context of United Nations’ emphasis on women, peace and security has had a positive impact on their overall status. Against this backdrop UNAMID’s Gender Advisory Unit (GAU) has established the Women’s Protection Network; this is primarily aimed at receiving timely information concerning women’s protection needs. This leads to the development of appropriate protection measures; raises awareness among local communities on women’s rights; and helps combat sexual and gender-based violence along with encouraging dialogues between women and the Mission’s various components as well as UN agencies and government institutions. The objective is to create a forum for women to discuss their protection needs so as to ensure that a mechanism for referring gender-based violence victims to service providers is in place and protection issues related to women and children are identified and, subsequently, brought to the attention of relevant stakeholders.

“The Women’s Protection Network was established to create champions of protection from within the displaced peoples’ camps,” said Ms. Angagaw Yegerawork, Senior Gender Officer, UNAMID GAU. Hence, UNAMID GAU is committed to empower women leaders who will watch over the overall safety and security of the women living in such camps. These women leaders are also expected to promote and engage in the peace process and in camp management.
The Network has been instrumental in bringing together women across all age groups, irrespective of community or tribal affiliations, to discuss and share their views on protection issues and seek effective ways of utilizing existing response and preventive mechanisms through a well-developed early warning, preparedness and response strategy. It has also enabled women’s participation in different areas within the IDP camps, including usage of traditional mediation mechanisms, decision-making as well as maintaining a cultural of peace. The women not only represent their respective communities, they also represent their villages of origin where they often return for farming activities.

The Network, present in all Darfur states except East Darfur, is composed of displaced women’s groups from different backgrounds and tribes. Members of the Network meet regularly to address issues of gender based-violence including monitoring and reporting cases of forcible sexual assault and abuse among women and girls.

They also maintain regular communication with GAU personnel as well as the Mission’s Police Advisers to pass on any information related to protection matters. “The information gathered is shared with UNAMID’s Protection Working Group and is discussed with different UN agencies. Based on the information received, the Mission is able to prioritize its daily patrols to include escort and farming patrols,” said Ms. Yegerawork.

Ms. Yegerawork explains also that since the establishment of network across Darfur, the Mission’s Gender Advisory Section has become a “hotline,” through which protection issues and concerns are channeled to the relevant stakeholders.

In addition to the Network, Darfuri women have been beneficiaries of UNAMID-sponsored workshops on protection of women, prevention of and response to sexual and gender -based violence as well as background sessions on the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security and monitoring and reporting on untoward incidents affecting women and girls. Displaced women have also benefitted from literacy classes conducted in the Women’s Centres in IDP camps. Moreover, on account of GAU’s advocacy, more women, including IDPs, are now part in the traditional conflict mediation council (Ajaweed).

On 27 October 2014, during the UN Security Council open debate on the implementation of Resolution 1325 (2000), Assistant Secretary-General for UN Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Edmond Mulet, described the actions taken by the organization to prevent women’s abuse in conflict region. He explained that the most effective and appropriate methods of preventing violence toward internally displaced women and girls is to intensify protection mechanisms, while at the same time, increase support for women’s participation in political processes and in governance. “The best way to protect and support women IDPs is to help women help themselves by giving them a voice in decision-making and socio-economic resources to empower them,” he said, adding that, “Protection of women, settled or displaced, is only possible when women can themselves define, shape and influence the course of their lives and ultimately the course for peace.”