Eight months has passed since two rival generals dashed hopes for a return to civilian rule in Sudan and plunged the country into a devastating war. In the shadow of the situation in Ukraine as well as Israel/Gaza, Sudan has almost completely lost media attention, despite a very difficult humanitarian situation and human rights abuses throughout the country and warnings of the risk of genocide in the Darfur region.
Operation 1325 has partners in Sudan. In a previous blog, I wrote about NuWEDA (Nuba Women for Education and Development Association) and not least its President and founder, Kamilia Kura.
During one of my visits to Sudan in 2022, I met Samia. She and some of her friends invited me for coffee in a small outdoor café by the Nile. They were all from eastern Sudan, and they talked about the problems of that region, but also the opportunities. They talked about the problems of female genital mutilation, about child marriage, about the difficulties for girls to study, but also about how fertile the region was and the potential for both agricultural production and fishing. The discussions were lively, and I was again struck by the fact that in countries affected by war and conflict you often find the strongest and most committed women. Women are certainly not just victims, which is the image that, for obvious reasons, is often conveyed to the outside world.
Samia has a special link to Sweden. She completed her education and doctorate with the help of a scholarship from Sida, was a guest researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute in Uppsala for six months in 2005, and in 2009 participated in a security seminar organized by Uppsala University’s Department of Peace and Conflict Research.
Samia has put her education and experience from Sweden into good use. In 2014, she took the initiative to form the organization Women for Peace and Development (WPDO), with the aim of working for the abolition of child marriage and genital mutilation, as well as building knowledge about UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and promoting women’s participation in various civil processes.
When war struck on April 15 this year, Samia was in Khartoum. As soon as I heard about the fighting, I contacted her to make sure everything was okay: “No, it isn’t” was her reply. Samia and her family were in an area under attack. Days passed and the situation worsened. Samia’s mother was ill and needed medical attention, which was not available; a friend of Samia’s was killed along with her two children. At the end of April, after a long and arduous journey, the family managed to get back to Gadaref. In addition to the immediate family, 28 other relatives who were forced to flee their homes are now staying there.
The situation in Gedaref is relatively stable, and many IDPs (internally displaced persons) have settled in the town. WPDO has expanded its focus to also work on collecting and distributing emergency aid to the IDPs, the majority of whom have low-income and are unable to support themselves in the current situation. WPDO has not abandoned its fundamental purpose: to combat child marriage and genital mutilation and to promote women’s participation in social processes. Awareness of Resolution 1325 is also on the agenda. A 16-day campaign is currently being organized to increase support for these demands among internally displaced persons. To change society and its norms, everyone must be included. Although women and children make up a clear majority in the IDP camps, there are also men there. And the campaign also targets them.
Operation 1325 cooperates with women and women’s organizations working at the local level in for instance Sudan, Palestine, Yemen and Iraq. We organize digital discussions and trainings, where Arabic-speaking women can participate without speaking English, thus avoiding that only women from the elites of the countries can participate. We have also been able to give financial contributions to enable meetings, for venue renting, local travel, etc. In Sudan, we see a need, but also an opportunity, to help organizations that promote women’s participation in activities aimed at mitigating the effects of war. We believe that when women’s important actions are visible, the position of women in society is also promoted. Women are needed for peace and to counter armed conflict. However, this must be done on women’s own terms. The Women for Peace and Development Organization is an excellent example of this, i.e., women coming forward when they are the most needed.
You can help us help. As a supporting member, you will receive regular information about our activities and if you want to do something concrete, we are grateful for volunteer efforts. You can also help the women in Sudan to help their fellow sisters by making a contribution to our fundraising campaign Appell Sudan.
Lena Sundh, President of Operation 1325
