When We Speak, They Listen and Act

When we speak, they listen. Because we have spoken out, and the US Department of State has issued a statement concerning the mass rape and the Government of Sudan’s response. In their statement the State Department urged the Government of Sudan to allow UNAMID and other UN agencies full access. (For the official press release: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2014/11/233976.htm) Now that we have got the attention of the U.S. Government please help us get the attention of other world governments and the members of the UNSC. We need to make them understand why the actions we are asking of them will make a difference: in order to ensure that horrific crimes such as these never happen again, so that women and girls can feel safe in their own communities. There are still challenges ahead for us, but with your support we can make a difference. The UN agency UNAMID, who is charged with protecting the citizens of Darfur, has finally released a statement concerning the mass rape in Tabit, however it is not what any of us hoped for. UNAMID sent investigators to the village on November 4th, but after only half an hour of talking with the residents about what had happened they were interrupted by government soldiers, after a short discussion the investigators left Tabit. The next day UNAMID issued a statement saying that they were turned away at a checkpoint and were unable to reach the village. On November 8th the military commander confessed that his troops were guilty of raping the girls and women of Tabit as well as beating the men. He apologized to the citizens for what had happened. For obvious reasons the people of Tabit rejected his apology, they want justice not an empty statement. They want practical action which would restore their dignity. UNAMID again went to Tabit, on November 9th (10 days after the crime had occurred) they went to the village to conduct an investigation but were accompanied with a platoon from the Sudan Government’s Army. The villagers said that each investigator was accompanied by at least three soldiers, soldiers of a similar station to those who carried out this atrocity. So it was no wonder that when UNAMID investigators returned they were able to say that no crime had been committed. This outrageous act of witness intimidation is unacceptable. The UN should be ashamed by the actions of UNAMID, this mission is charged with protecting civilians and instead is aiding in covering up horrendous crimes committed against them. We call upon UNAMID to conduct a true investigation, without the intimidation of government soldiers. Our petition is gaining momentum, but we need you to keep the momentum going to enable us to put more pressure on the UNSC and other policy makers to ensure that protection and justice can be achieved for the women of Tabit and the people of Darfur at large.