Annotation:
This report by the UN Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
assesses the extent to which the
Government of the Sudan has lived up to
its commitments with regard to combating
domestic violence in Darfur. The OHCHR
recommends that the Government of the
Sudan take responsibility to protect
against re-victimization of victims of
sexual violence. Judicial and law
enforcement staff, as well as local
authorities, and medical and social
workers should be trained so that they can
work effectively and respectfully with
victims of sexual violence. Judicial and
administrative structures must provide
victims recourse to expeditious, fair,
inexpensive and accessible procedures, and
gender-insensitive laws must be modified
accordingly. The Government of the Sudan
must publicly acknowledge the scope of the
problem of sexual violence, and take
action to end the culture of impunity
among perpetrators. Prompt, thorough and
impartial investigations into all reports
of sexual violence, along with punishment
of perpetrators and compensation to
victims that are in accordance with the
gravity of the crime will send a clear
message to perpetrators that rape will no
longer be tolerated.