18 August 2009 -- UNAMID has established a gender crime special investigations unit within the police component that will be responsible for monitoring and reporting on investigations of crimes committed against women and children, and, contribute to bringing justice to the victims. The unit will focus on addressing sexual based violence, rehabilitate victims, reduce stigmatization of victims of sexual abuse, and will work to encourage victims to report incidents freely to law enforcement agencies. It will provide support to the local law enforcement agencies in the investigation of complex cases of violation, such as sexual harassment, child abuse, human trafficking, domestic violence, child abandonment and prostitution.

In achieving its mandate, the unit will be headed by an officer-in-Charge (OiC) and assisted by six police advisors with special training in sexual gender-based violence (SGBV). The unit was created last month in response to reports of continuous SGBV cases in Darfur.

The unit will work in coordination and collaboration with UNAMID Gender unit, criminal investigations unit, Human Rights, international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other agencies, the Community, Government of Sudan/ Movement Police, concerned with gender related issues.

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