Protecting Women and Girls 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. 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 million have been forced by the Sudanese military and the Janjaweed militia to flee from their villages into camps for displaced people.

In Darfur, rape and sexual violence are used as weapons of war to shame and destroy families and communities. Domestic violence has increased in the camps, escalating the danger that women and girls face. Using violence against women in war is inconsistent with time-honored religious and cultural values in Darfur — but the bitter war has distorted traditional beliefs and behaviors.  

Who UUSC supports

• Women and girls, particularly those in camps for displaced people, who are vulnerable to gender-based violence

What UUSC does together with grassroots partners

Current projects

Along with imams in the United States and Darfur, UUSC has developed an innovative approach in South Darfur to address sexual and domestic violence against women. UUSC and its partners are supporting a unique team of women leaders and imams who are using their own religious values and texts to demonstrate to their communities that violence against women is wrong. They are disseminating this message through the following methods:

• Developing educational materials for imams
• Training community leaders in using Islamic values to combat violence against women
• Producing popular-education materials
• Using radio and television to educate the public
• Reaching out to 7,000 secondary-school students

Completed projects

• Developed a multifaceted program to form a "web of protection" for women and girls in 10 camps in South Darfur; projects included creating firewood committees, supporting women's centers, and training U.N. police

Last updated: March 18, 2013

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