Gender-Based Violence: Progress in Darfur and Northern

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001177 NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU GENEVA FOR NKYLOH UN ROME FOR HSPANOS NEW YORK FOR DMERCADO SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI SMIG UN SU SUBJECT: Gender-Based Violence: Progress in Darfur and Northern Sudan ¶1. (SBU) Summary: In an October 3 meeting with USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA),the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) noted recent legal and organizational progress on sexual and gender-based violence (GBV),including extending legal protections to women throughout northern Sudan. UNFPA' efforts in this regard complement the U.S. Government's (USG) increased engagement on GBV issues. End Summary. -------------- LEGAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL PROGRESS ON GBV -------------- ¶2. (U) On October 3, a USAID/OFDA officer met with UNFPA staff for an update on GBV work in Darfur and northern Sudan more generally. Under the U.N. cluster roll-out in progress in Darfur, UNFPA will lead the subgroup on GBV that is part of the U.N. Protection Cluster, led by the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF). UNFPA also leads the Reproductive Health (RH) subgroup of the U.N. Health Cluster, led by the U.N. World Health Organization (WHO). The combined subgroup lead responsibilities place UNFPA in a unique coordination and advocacy role to advance a GBV agenda with the justice, health, and social welfare ministries. ¶3. (U) Following the Government of Sudan's (GOS) expulsion of 13 international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in March 2009, the GBV sector lost virtually all of its implementing capacity and activities slowed measurably. Women's centers closed, livelihoods activities ceased, and case reporting on GBV declined. Hundreds of outreach workers were laid off. Despite these setbacks, UNFPA staff told USAID/OFDA that significant recent successes offered hope for continued GBV work in Sudan. ¶4. (SBU) UNFPA indicated that state officials' attitudes may be changing regarding GBV programs. Following a change in leadership at the South Darfur Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) after March 2009, rape kits, which previously could not be distributed in the state, are now dispatched along with other medicines. [Note: The new head of the South Darfur HAC, Jamal Yousif Idriss, received training from UNFPA in prior years on GBV awareness and is considered 'friendly' to the sector. End note.] In North Darfur, the HAC has authorized the re-establishment of nine women's centers, while in West Darfur, UNFPA has GNU approval to revitalize a women's center in Krindig IDP camp as a pilot project, including a GBV training curriculum. ¶5. (SBU) UNFPA's strategy, which has been successful to date, depoliticizes rape by focusing on the medical aspects. As the lead in the RH subgroup, UNFPA focuses on the minimum service standards (MISP),which include treatment of GBV. The MOH accepts MISP as part of its basic health strategy, and the GBV work by association with MISP. ¶6. (SBU) UNFPA emphasized that the legal environment for protection of rape victims remains weak overall in Sudan. The Armed Forces Act of 2007 and Police Act of 2008 both provide immunity for police and armed services, and there remains a strong culture of denial of the existence of rape by non-medical authorities. However, there are a few encouraging changes at the federal level. The violence against women unit at the Ministry of Justice has announced that Circular 2, which outlines legal rights for GBV victims, will cover not only Darfur, but also the rest of Northern Sudan. This is recognition that violence against women is not unique to Darfur but affects women throughout northern Sudan. Further, UNFPA says the GNU is taking steps to no longer require submission of Form 8 before a victim may seek medical treatment. Currently, victims must submit Form 8 to access medical treatment for rape. Abolishing the Form 8 requirement will go a long way to alleviating the stigma and shame that accompanies rape in Sudan, which has discouraged women from seeking treatment. [Note: U.N. partners in the south are similarly working to remove the Form 8 requirement. End Note.] ¶7. (SBU) UNFPA noted that UNICEF has helped establish Family Child Protection Units in a number of areas, including Kadugli and Kassala towns, Khartoum North and Omdurman cities. The units are designed to be places to report violence against children and women and provide psychosocial support and medical attention for victims. While not fully operational due to lack of staff and equipment, the spaces exist and represent a step forward. ¶8. (SBU) UNFPA further stated that the GNU Ministry of Justice is drafting a five-year national action plan on GBV. UNFPA and the UNDP rule-of-law division are involved to ensure that the action KHARTOUM 00001177 002 OF 002 plan is consistent with relevant international law and standards. The first draft of the plan is not perfect, UNFPA admits, but is better than no plan at all. The existence of a plan offers the U.N. and Sudanese lawyers a standard of accountability against which to measure government actions. U.N. organizations would prefer a plan that could be reviewed on an annual basis, giving civil society groups and the opportunity to provide feedback and advocate for additional elements. UNFPA has provided USAID with a copy of the current draft. -------------- OBSTACLES TO GBV WORK -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Some of the technical obstacles UNFPA encounters include the high turnover of Ministry of Health staff, police, and others who require training. However, high turnover means that hundreds of individuals have been sensitized and given skills to deal with GBV. UNFPA also trains U.N.-African Union Hybrid Operations in Darfur (UNAMID) staff, but the huge number of individuals, especially UNAMID police, that need training has led UNFPA to create a training of trainers module that is proving quite effective. UNFPA's main constraint is securing funding for Darfur field office staff and supporting non-UNAMID trainings. UNFPA commented that donors are reluctant to fund training if a measurable correlation between training and improvement in rape treatment is not catalogued. UNFPA says that the sensitivity of reporting numbers and details of rape cases prevent statistical reporting about victims and treatment. UNFPA reported no difficulties in raising funds to purchase and distribute rape kits. ¶10. (SBU) Comment: UNFPA is optimistic about the progress in Darfur on GBV issues despite the generally gloomy operating environment in Darfur. While NGOs have difficulty working in this area, the state and federal level governments' increasing acceptance of UNFPA is very significant. One of the UNFPA staff in the October 3 meeting was a former International Rescue Committee staff member who was asked to leave due to her GBV work in 2008. She has since worked for UNFPA in Nyala without any government interference. The new humanitarian space is the result of careful UNFPA interactions with government counterparts. ¶11. (SBU) Comment continued: The U.S. Congress has shown heightened interest and concern about GBV, and has dispatched Congressional and staff delegations to Sudan who have followed up on sector progress. The Secretary of State has highlighted the issue in messages to the field and during her visits to Africa. The USG will remain engaged in GBV issues in Sudan by supporting UNFPA's progress toward the acceptance of GBV as a legal and medical issue that deserves the attention of federal and state governments in Sudan. End Comment. WHITEHEAD