This report draws on more than 50 interviews of survivors of sexual violence in Darfur, and dozens of interviews with government officials, law enforcement personnel, lawyers, rebels, international and local humanitarian aid workers, and UN officials working in Sudan. The report synthesizes information Human Rights Watch obtained from various credible sources from November 2007 to February 2008. Among published documents, the report draws heavily from the final report of the UN Human Rights Council-appointed Group of Experts and other UN agency publications.
"Rape and other forms of sexual violence remain endemic to the Darfur conflict. As documented extensively, it featured prominently in the government's 'ethnic cleansing' campaign, both during and following displacement. To date, sexual violence continues to threaten the safety of women and girls across Darfur in patterns that reflect current conflict dynamics and the breakdown of law and order."
This report covers:
- Patterns of Abuse
- Obstacles to Justice for Sexual Violence Survivors
- Government's Response to Sexual Violence
- International Response to Sexual Violence
- Sudan's Obligation to Prevent, Investigate and Punish Sexual Violence
