El Geneina, 4 November 2018: UNAMID, in collaboration with UNFPA and the West Darfur Ministry of Health and Social Development, on 29 October conducted a workshop on Conflict Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) and Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in El Geneina, West Darfur. 

The workshop aimed to equip participants with a working knowledge of CRSV so they can track, investigate and follow up cases.  It drew 35 participants, comprising 18 men and 17 women from the Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Arrangements (MARA) on CRSV and Gender-based Violence (GBV) working groups, the State Committee for Combating Violence against Women, the Women’s Protection Networks, the police, the military, legal experts and academics. 

Speaking at the event, the Head of the Human Rights Section at UNAMID Sector West, Ohiozoba Ehiede, said the Mission’s Human Rights Section was mandated to contribute to promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms through such programmes. In addition, the section was monitoring and reporting CRSV and SGBV as part of activities to implement the Mission’s mandate. 

“This workshop will demonstrate solidarity with women and men in West Darfur to stop violence against women and create the tools and concrete actions to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women,” he said.

He underlined UNAMID’s commitment to support the Government of Sudan (GoS) to enhance the national response to these forms of violence and called on stakeholders to push for a multi-sector response to violence against women and girls through existing laws and mechanisms.

Abdul-Aziz Saeed, Director General in the Ministry of Health and Social Development, stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation and coordination to reduce violence by strengthening the roles of the judiciary police, as well as providing support for survivors of both CRSV and SGBV. He outlined some of the initiatives undertaken by the Ministry to equip health workers with skills to handle CRSV and SGBV cases. 

Representing UNFPA in West Darfur, Mr. Hafiz Khalil emphasized the importance of a multi-faceted approach to combat both forms of violence, hence the agency’s endeavors to build constructive partnerships with various partners from Government and the United Nations.

“Sexual violence is a negative phenomenon that needs to be curbed through both the law and awareness raising among the community,” he said. 

The participants were encouraged to apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills to advocate for policies and legislation that will help reduce cases of both CRSV and SGBV.