Date: 10th July 2023
To: The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
The African Union Commission
Excellences,
Subject: IGAD Meeting on Sudan, Addis Ababa, 10th July 2023
Nearly three months elapsed since the start of the war between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces, which spread from the capital Khartoum to include Darfur, and Kordofan, causing a devastation impact on Sudan including displacement, fleeing of citizens, most of whom are women and children, to neighboring countries. Add to that, the horrible crimes against humanity that have been mentioned by many human rights organizations and bodies. Needless to mention, all forms of suffering including inaccessibility to health services, food, water, cash, income etc. The country is at the stage of total collapse of its institutions.
Sudanese women from all walks established their networks and groups from the beginning of the armed conflict; a conflict that turned to be a fierce war. Women’s main demands remained to be ending the war in Sudan, permit humanitarian assistance to reach the affected population; and protection of civilians in particular women and girls from all forms of violence including conflict- related sexual violence. Sudanese women call for the respect of International Humanitarian Laws and human rights by warring parties.
We confirm
Sudanese women have been closely following the efforts of the regional and international actors to end the war promptly before it turns into civil war and eventually affects the regional peace and security.
Sudanese women communicated with: the UN Secretary General, IGAD and AU on 6th May 2023; the Prime Ministers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabic on May 28th 2023 following the short term cease fire and humanitarian assistance agreement; the SG of the League of Arab States on the occasion of the LAS Summit that took place in Jeddah on 20 May 2023, and a meeting with the SG of the League of Arab States in Cairo on 22nd June 2023.
All messages have one demand: ending the war immediately.
We appreciate
The high level virtual solidarity meeting of African Union, IGAD and UN Women organized on 12 May 2023 with the Sudanese women and showed commitment and solidarity to accompany Sudanese women during this difficult time.
The efforts of all neighboring countries, the regional and international actors to find a lasting solution to Sudan conflict.
The different initiatives of Sudanese to stop the war in Sudan.
The advocacy messages of Sudanese women, and human rights defenders seeking an end to the war, protection of civilians and holding actors accountable for international humanitarian laws and human rights conventions.
The reception of neighboring countries to unexpected influx of Sudanese escaping the war and for opening their boarders to Sudanese people.
We urge IGAD meeting
To put at most pressure on the conflicting parties to immediately stop the war with no conditions from any of the parties and ensure that they act promptly and seriously to end the war.
To emphasize opening of safe corridors immediately to deliver humanitarian assistance to all Sudanese people as displaced in different states and in war zone areas in Khartoum, Darfur, and Kordofan as well as other states of Sudan.
To permit and facilitate women’s participation in delivering humanitarian needs and take prevention measures to ensure humanitarian items are not looted and not used for political interest. National NGOs including women led groups, should be engaged in the execution, and monitoring of humanitarian responses.
To ensure the protection of civilians, women, men, boys, and girls, elderly and the disabled according to international conventions and protocols. Hundreds of causalities were killed from ad hoc shooting and bombing.
To request for Immediate evacuation of military groups from all houses of civilians that are occupied since the start of the conflict, to allow the families to go back home and accordingly to reduce the probability of increased displacement and influx of refugees to neighboring countries.
To prioritize the protection of women and girls from all forms of violence in particular conflict -related sexual violence such as the spread of rape and kidnapping that were reported and shocked the world.
To promote the respect of the displaced and refugees’ full rights in accordance to the relevant conventions and treaties that Sudan signed off.
To ensure no interference from other actors or countries that may fuel and prolong the war.
Excellences,
We count also on your recognition of Sudanese women as key agents for peace in Sudan and their role should be enforced during the political processes when resumed.
Accept, excellences our highest assurance and respect
| Initiative | State |
| Women led initiatives established as a response to the war | |
| Women Against War | Includes women from across Sudan |
| Mothers of Sudan | Blue Nile Region |
| Eastern Sudan Women’s Initiative to Stop the War | Eastern Sudan Region |
| Women’s Call Initiative for Rejection and Cessation of War (Nahda Women’s Organization for Change, Peace, and Sustainable Development) | Kordofan Region |
| Women in the Field | North Darfur State |
| Ceasefire Initiative – Darfur Sector | Darfur Region |
| Solidarity of Mothers in Gezira for Shelter | Al-Jazira State |
| Initiative of Organizations | Red Sea State |
| Eastern Sudan Women’s Alliance | Eastern Region |
| Darfur Women’s Platform | Darfur Region |
| Networks, Coalitions and alliances | |
| Women for Peace and Security Network | Darfur States (West, Central, South, North, and East), Kordofan Region, Blue Nile Region, Kassala, and Red Sea States |
| Blue Nile Women’s Network for Peace & Development (BNWDP) | Blue Nile Region |
| Political and Civil Women’s Groups (MANSAM) | From Across Sudan |
| No To Women’s Oppression | From Across Sudan |
| Emergency Rooms | |
| El Gedaref Emergency Room | Al-Gadarif State |
| Northern State Emergency Room | Northern State |
| Greater Omdurman Emergency Room | Khartoum State |
| Omdurman Emergency Room | Khartoum State |
| Kassala Emergency Room | Kassala State |
| Port Sudan Emergency Room | Red Sea State |
| Women led civil Society Organizations | |
| Sudanese Organization for Research and Development | Khartoum State, Eastern Region, Blue Nile Region and South Darfur State. |
| Al Harisat Organization | Khartoum State |
| Women’s Development Organization | Red Sea State |
| Women and Youth Victims of Wars | Blue Nile Region |
| Women’s House of Finance Association | Khartoum State |
| Women and Child Development and Peace Organization | Eastern Sudan, Red Sea, Port Sudan, and its rural areas |
| SAS Legal Center | Khartoum State |
| AMNA Organization | Khartoum State |
| Association of Disabled Women in Kassala | Kassala State |
| Bait Al-Balad Association | Blue Nile Region |
| No to the Oppression of Women | Khartoum State |
| Nora Organization for Combating Violence Against Women and Girls | Khartoum State |
| Bitagdri- You can | Northern Region |
| Al-Khairia Charitable Organization for Women and Child Development | Blue Nile Region |
| National Planning Organization | Kordofan Region |
| Nuqtat Daw’ Association for Development | Kassala State |
| Sudanese Women’s Union | |
| Women’s Awareness Initiative (WAI) | Blue Nile Region |
| Women’s Development and Protection Association | North Darfur State |
| Cultural Steps Association | Khartoum State |
| DARTIC Community Initiative for Researchers and Data Analysts | White Nile and West Darfur States |
| Gadrat for Support and Development | Al-Jazira State |
| Gender Center for Research and Studies | Khartoum State |
| Women Lawyers for Change Center | Khartoum State |
| March 8 Women’s Group | Red Sea State |
| Women’s Alliance and Platform for Sudanese Women’s Renaissance | |
| Open Up for Peace and Development | Khartoum State |
| Madania Society | Khartoum State |
