Workshop on “Protecting Women and Girls First in Peace and War ” inaugurates

The Citizen /Haffiya Elyas

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Women Group ، Dr. Sarah Abu, , said this is the first of the activities of the group in Dongola, which is distinguished in the history of Sudan in terms of governance, science, progress, justice, societal mixing, and embracing everyone who sets foot on the land of Sudan.
Abu said during the inauguration of the workshop titled “Protecting Women and Girls First in Peace and War ” organized by the Women National Group, in collaboration with the University of Dongola, the Combating Violence Against Women & Children Unit, and the Reyada Center, Abu said Dongola is the
land of conquests, history, and antiquities.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees said the leadership and the group appreciate all the efforts to hold the workshop, attendance, participation, advocacy, and support.

Prof. Abdullah, representative of the Rector of the University of Dongola, welcomed the attendees, valued the role of women in society, and said that they must be protected from all forms of violence.

Amira Hassan Abdulrahman, Dean of the College of Community Development at Dongola University and coordinator of the workshop, said that the aim of the workshop is to enhance awareness and knowledge about war-related violations in Sudan, empower actors to support women and girl victims, and advocate for access to justice and accountability.

Sulaima Ishaq Elkhalifa Sharif/Unit for Combating Violence against Women ، said the protection of women is not a luxury, nor a secondary issue, but the foundation of any genuine peace process, a pillar of social justice and societal stability.

A number of papers have been presented during the workshop, including a paper on the causes and effects of health (physical, psychological, and mental), educational, social, and economic violations of the rights of women and girls in peace and war, with a focus on the effects of the war of April 15, 2023, on women and girls, health care services, and psychosocial support for victims, as well as social care and rehabilitation of victims.

The workshop also addressed the issue of protecting women and girl prisoners in international humanitarian law, along with The issue of smuggling, selling, and trafficking crimes against women and girls ,
Transitional Justice, Restorative Justice, and Peacebuilding

There have been an open dialogue during the workshop on how survivors can support the available psychological, medical, and legal services to create a future roadmap for coordination between civil society organizations to provide services to women and girl victims.