UN Authority Figures

UN Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law Advisory Committee: Sudan

"Waiting to register at the Iridimi Transit Center in eastern Chad. This woman's husband and 6-year-old child died amid the violence in Sudan. She fled with her remaining children and first arrived at the Chadian border town, Tine. She then walked 60 km to the transit center for assistance (some generous Chadian villagers helped her along the way)." © Women's Commission/Megan McKenna

Mission of the UN Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law: "...To contribute to a better knowledge of international law 'as a means for strengthening international peace and security and promoting friendly relations and co-operation among States.'" (Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law web-site, "Introduction")

Term of office: 2004-2007

Sudan's Record on International Law:
"In Darfur government forces, janjaweed, and Darfur rebel groups committed serious abuses during the year, including the reported killing of at least several thousand civilians. Government and janjaweed militias razed numerous villages of African tribes, and committed acts of torture and violence against women...According to the UN, more than 200,000 persons have died, two million civilians have been internally displaced, and an estimated 234,000 refugees have fled to neighboring Chad since the conflict began in 2003...The government's human rights record remained poor, and there were numerous serious problems, including evidence of continuing genocide in Darfur, for which the government and janjaweed continued to bear responsibility. Abuses included: abridgement of citizens' rights to change their government; extrajudicial and other unlawful killings by government forces and other government-aligned groups throughout the country; torture, beatings, rape and other cruel, inhumane treatment or punishment by security forces; harsh prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention, including incommunicado detention of suspected government opponents, and prolonged pretrial detention; executive interference with the judiciary and denial of due process; forced military conscription of underage men; obstruction of the delivery of humanitarian assistance; infringement on citizens' right to privacy, freedoms of speech, press, assembly, association, religion, and movement...violence and discrimination against women, including...female genital mutilation; child abuse, including sexual violence and recruitment as child soldiers...trafficking in persons; discrimination and violence against ethnic minorities; denial of workers' rights; and forced labor, including child labor..." (US State Department's Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006, Sudan)

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