Communiqué for the Civil Society Parallel Conference to the Arab Summit.
منشور بواسطة admin1 في EnglishMarch 2010, Boznika, Morocco “For Darfur and Sudan”
On the initiative of the Arab Coalition for Darfur, the civil society parallel conference took place in Bouznika Morocco 6-7 March 2010 with over 70 participant organisations, before the Arab Summit in Sirte Libya which will take place at the end of March 2010. Over the period of two days the conference examined the situation in Sudan in general and the humanitarian crisis in Darfur in particular. It examined the upcoming presidential elections which will take place on 10 April 2010 and the referendum which will determine the future of South Sudan. Discussions were also made regarding implementing the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in Sudan, as well as the peace talks in Darfur, and the provisions for the reconstruction and development of Darfur and Sudan as a whole.
Violence continues in Darfur where many people are now in their seventh year in camps. 4.7 million people are in need of assistance -- over 60% of the population and this as high as it has ever been. As stated in March by the UN violence and insecurity continues in all three states between government and rebel forces and between factions, and the danger of kidnappings continues. Jebel Marra is especially affected with reports of up to 40,000 displaced. Lack of access to these areas because of insecurity means the levels of need are not known – for example at the time of writing some agencies have suspended operations in eastern Jebel Marra and there is no access to health services affecting 100,000 people. In respect of Sudan as a whole, last year was the worst violence since the CPA, and displacement is ongoing due to violence with another 36,000 so far this year and rising food insecurity with 4.3 million expected to need food aid this year. South Sudan has seen no peace dividend – still almost 90% of women cannot read or write and there remain only 60km of paved roads in the whole region.
We therefore warn against any complacency that the war in Darfur is over. The misery continues and violence is also increasing in South Sudan.
The conference made the following demands on the Arab summit:
Upcoming elections and the referendum
The conference calls on the Arab summit to ensure the elections are based on a transparent, legal and fair system, and demands that all parties involved -- especially the government authorities -- to respect the will of the voters and facilitate the efforts of domestic, regional and international observers. It also called for provisions to be made to ensure an enabling environment for these efforts without violence or threats.
The conference calls upon the Government of National Unity (GNU) and the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) to ensure that the legal and political standards or processes are in place to proceed with the referendum as envisaged by the CPA. It also calls on all regional and international parties to respect the will of the people of south Sudan regardless of the referendum outcome.
Peace discussions and negotiations
The conference commends all efforts from regional and international parties to ensure peace in Sudan, and to support the CPA, and calls upon both parties in the agreement to uphold the articles of agreement, and to cooperate in a transparent manner to finalise the last stages of discussion.
The conference appreciates all the efforts exerted by the parties and regional and international mediators spearheaded by the joint African Union- United Nations mediator, and the governments of Qatar, Libya, Chad and Egypt that support the peace process in the region. The conference expresses its concern regarding the apparent competition between the different mediators that is noted by observers. It calls upon them to coordinate their efforts to end the suffering of civilians in Darfur.
The conference stated it was essential for the peace process to be comprehensive, to include all Darfurian parties and be based on the demands of the Darfurian people for justice. It called on the Arab summit to press all parties to enter an agreement and put in place guarantees to implement this agreement as soon as possible.
The conference called the Arab summit to support and find practical mechanisms to implement the recommendations of the report by AU High Level Panel on Darfur. Specifically it calls for supporting the reform of the Sudanese legal system and the inauguration of the hybrid courts based upon international standards, ensuring their independence and not being subject to local revisions. It calls for the establishment of a committee for reconciliation, and for those who have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur to be held to account regardless of their identities or ranks, as well as appropriate compensation of victims and radical reform of relevant organisations to implement the law.
The conference presses the parties involved in the peace process in Darfur and specifically the League of Arab States to uphold and respect the rights of civilians, and to work towards the reconstruction of Darfur. It calls for the appropriate returnee process to their villages that have been abandoned because of conflict, and to ensure their ownership of the land and to accelerate the humanitarian and development process in Darfur. It however urges the model villages to be based on needs on the ground and not on political objectives or propaganda, and to ensure the appropriate balance between humanitarian need and reconstruction and development. It stressed that the return of IDPs to their villages -- including the ‘model villages’ – must be in accordance with international law, and for there to be guarantees to provide basic services and compensation for all damages occurred.
Humanitarian assistance and protection
The conference demands all Arab governments to move forward fast in provision of humanitarian assistance to victims, based on accurate independent needs assessment and the application of humanitarian principles. It calls on the Arab summit to press for transparency regarding the size of those who are affected and in need of aid through the publishing of independent regular reports which are widely disseminated. The conference also calls upon the Arab Summit to press the GoSS to uphold its responsibility for conflict prevention in the south, and demands of the GNU and UNMIS to support the GoSS in civilian protection and stopping the military operation of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), that has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians throughout the last year, especially in the states of Equatoria.
Sudan faces a crucial year due to the upcoming elections and the referendum in 2011. The Arab leaders face a window of opportunity to demonstrate their vital role and to bear their responsibilities in putting an end to the conflict in Sudan. We urge the Arab leaders to seriously engage with the challenges and to coordinate their efforts for comprehensive peace and justice to prevail in Sudan.
Arab Coalition for Darfur -- 54 members with 70 other organisations attending the Social Forum
المنظمة الوطنية لحقوق الإنسان في سورية – دمشق- فاكس 00963115330005 – هاتف 096393348666
National.Organization @ gmail.com www.nohr-s.org
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