Ending Genocide in Darfur

Confirmed damaged and destroyed villages in Darfur, Sudan.

Today, the genocidal violence in Darfur has faded from the news, but the situation remains dire. UUSC is deeply concerned about the protection crisis that women and girls face every day in Darfur, where rape and sexual violence are used as weapons of war to shame and destroy families and communities.

A viable and inclusive peace process in Darfur is necessary, but the protection of women and girls in Darfur cannot wait for an end to the war.

UUSC's approach and actions

Since 2004, UUSC has been supporting innovative programs with local organizations in Darfur. UUSC’s work weaves a web of protection for women and girls in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and helps put an end to rape and sexual violence.

Violence against women is inconsistent with time-honored religious and cultural values in Darfur — but war distorts beliefs and behaviors. Along with imams in the United States and Darfur, UUSC is developing an innovative approach in South Darfur to address both sexual and domestic violence against women: working together to train imams in South Darfur on the use of religious values and texts to demonstrate that violence against women is wrong. The program includes development of educational materials for imams, trainings, and public-education materials.

Background

The genocidal war in Sudan’s western Darfur region has raged since early 2003. Over 300,000 Darfurians have been killed, and more than 2.7 million have been forced by the Sudanese military and the Janjaweed militia to flee their villages.

Over 3,500 settlements in Darfur have been damaged or destroyed since the beginning of the war, and half of the 7.5 million people in Darfur struggle to get enough food to survive. Nearly 2 million people in Darfur are living in IDP camps. They all rely on sparse humanitarian aid and weak international protection for their survival.

Despite signing the 2006 Darfur Peace Agreement, the Sudanese government and the militias it supports continue to attack villages in Darfur, hamper the delivery of humanitarian aid, recruit child soldiers, and commit acts of violence against civilians — including rape. Women and girls continue to struggle daily for survival and protection from violence and assault. UUSC is helping them win that struggle.

Please consider supporting UUSC's ongoing, vital work to protect women and girls in Darfur — donate today.

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