By Christian S. Mikala

 

Internally displaced persons, especially women and children, are vulnerable to human rights violations in conflict areas. The international community has dedicated a great deal of effort to frame laws and conventions for their protection. Despite these efforts, atrocities against children and gender-based violence against women continue to be committed around the world.

 

One of the challenges faced by victims of human rights violations has been the perceived lack of action by law enforcement agencies. Several factors contribute to this situation, including limited technical skills of personnel, the lack of equipment for efficient response to the plight of the victims and the high turnover rate of some law enforcement officials, who leave their duty stations before they are able to use their acquired knowledge.

 

In Darfur, gender-based violence continues to be reported even as progress is made to move from a conflict phase to a recovery-and-development phase. In this transition period, and as a key priority of its mandate to protect civilians, the African Union - United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) is providing support to the Government of Sudan in seeking to eradicate violence against women and children.

 

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