USAID/OTI Sudan Hot Topics
October 2005
Meetings Between Sudanese, U.N. Mission Representatives
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| Residents of Juba town listen intently as the commander of the U.N. peacekeeping forces in Sudan discusses their mandate. |
The overarching goal of the USAID/OTI Sudan program is to strengthen Sudanese confidence and capacity to address the causes and consequences of political marginalization, violence, and instability within the context of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the Government of Sudan.
The OTI Sudan program focuses on promoting the emergence of responsive and effective civil authorities; providing opportunities for peaceful dialogue within and among communities; fostering the emergence of an active civil society; increasing the availability of quality, independent information; and protecting vulnerable populations from grave human rights violations and related abuses.
As peacekeeping troops assigned to the U.N. Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) begin to deploy across the country, feelings of relief are mixed with some trepidation. Although the 22-year civil war has ended, lawlessness is widespread. With tens of thousands of refugees and internally displaced persons returning to their homes in the south, many carrying their life savings, reports of banditry are on the rise. It is widely acknowledged that additional protection beyond Sudanese law enforcement is urgently needed; however, many Sudanese are concerned that traditional and local leadership structures could be undermined by UNMIS forces. Allegations of sexual misconduct and exploitation by international peacekeeping forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone also have fueled misgivings about the introduction of the peacekeeping force into Sudan.
With support from the Office of Transition Initiatives’ Sudan program, Sudanese youth associations and women’s groups in the towns of Kassala, Juba, Rumbek, Wau and Malakal have hosted a series of meetings between citizens and representatives of UNMIS, including military officers and civilians working in the fields of human rights, civil affairs, gender, and mine clearance. Efforts have been made to identify areas in which community leaders and peacekeepers can work together to improve security and safeguard the peace. Community representatives raised questions regarding UNMIS’s proposed methods for enforcing a “zero tolerance” policy should cases of sexual misconduct and exploitation occur.
The goal of these meetings was to increase accountability among UNMIS personnel and community leaders and encourage continued communication and collaboration between the peacekeepers and communities. These initiatives are among many supported by OTI in Sudan that aim to foster a political culture characterized by an adherence to democratic practices and greater respect for human rights.
For further information, please contact:
In Washington, D.C: Michele Amatangelo, Program Manager, Tel: (202) 712-4275, mamatangelo@usaid.gov
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