STEERING COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE TRANSITION IN SUDAN

The North-South conflict of the Sudan is one of the longest conflicts in Africa and likely to continue into the next century. More recently, the marginalised people in the North joined the armed struggle; creating another conflict in the North, a "North-North" conflict between centre and periphery. The Government in Khartoum and some opposition members within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) tend to play this down.

STEERING COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE TRANSITION IN SUDAN

Background

Sudan is a multi-ethnic nation. It contains up to six hundred different ethnic groups with widely varying origins, customs and traditional political systems. Several dozen languages are spoken drawn from a wide spectrum of language groups.

STEERING COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE TRANSITION IN SUDAN

This issue paper is based on work by A. H. Abdel Salam

Overview

Sudan began its independence by amending the Self Autonomy Act of 1953, to be the 1956 Transitional Constitution. During the 43 years of independence, the country has seen three Transitional Constitutions, two Permanent Constitutions and several constitutional or republican orders.

STEERING COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE TRANSITION IN SUDAN

This is based on a paper written for the Committee by Muna Awad Khogali

1. INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this paper is to trace and identify the causes of the discrimination practiced against Sudanese women and to identify measures that can and should be taken by a future Transitional Government. First, we must analyse Sudanese society and its means that are used in order for a male-dominated order to impose virtually unlimited authority over women. Secondly, we will look at the effects of the oppressive measures (especially laws) against women taken by successive governments since Independence, especially of course the current National Islamic Government

STEERING COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE TRANSITION IN SUDAN

The objective of this paper is to detail the situation of Southern Sudanese women in the context of international human rights law. It is clear that, despite the efforts made by international bodies to improve women’s conditions world-wide through universal conventions and development programmes, many women’s condition continues to remain unacceptable and even to deterioriate, especially in Africa.

STEERING COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE TRANSITION IN SUDAN

Based on a paper by Alex de Waal, Sudan Rights Programme, Inter-Africa Group

Background: Famine in Sudan

Sudan is a potentially wealthy country, but it has become chronically vulnerable to famine. It is conventional for drought, desertification, and mistakes in economic policy to be blamed for famine. All these play their role, and drought at least is beyond human agency. But none of these problems makes famine inevitable: famine occurs through the operation of a political, military, economic and social system.

Land rights are an essential human right in themselves, especially in a largely rural country like Sudan where the majority of the people gain their livelihoods from the land. In addition, violations of land and natural resources rights by successive governments have been instrumental in the outbreak of war, so a comprehensive and far-reaching settlement of these issues is essential if Sudan is to achieve peace.

STEERING COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE TRANSITION IN SUDAN

I. Introduction and Methodology

In this paper, the rights of the child are briefly introduced according to international human rights norms. Dimensions of child rights, in terms of both measures of protection and promotion (such as the rights to education and to a healthy socialization of the child) are highlighted. The paper focuses closely on the deprivations of Sudanese children who live under a state of uneven regional development, armed conflict, and the other social ills endangering the social life of Sudanese people all over the country. Throughout the discussion raised in this paper, the diversity of Sudanese family systems and interrelationships is critically presented as an essential ingredient of the Sudanese society. The NDA’s commitment to the international rights of the child is explored in the light of a proposed national programme for comprehensive child rights and a plan of action to promote solutions to the special needs of children for further discussion.

The Crisis in the Nuba Mountains

Suleiman Musa Rahhal

Honourable Chairperson

My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen

It is a great privilege to address this assembly on behalf of the Nuba people of Sudan, one of the most downtrodden and invisible peoples of the world.

The Nuba of Central Sudan are one of the largest of many non-Arab groups in the Sudan and if one looks through the corridors of the history of Sudan as from the Kush Kingdom he will find that Nuba history and civilisation are well embedded along the course of the Nile valley.

Held at SOAS, London on 20 April 1996

Introduction

An International conference on the endangered Nuba people of the Sudan, held at London University's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) on 20 April 1996, warned that genuine peace in Sudan will need more than a settlement between the major parties in the civil war.