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Peace talks between the Sudan Government and Sudan People's Liberation
Movement/Army (SPLM/A) are due to enter their final stage in Nairobi,
Kenya on 15 October, marking a significant opportunity to end slavery
in Sudan.
An estimated 14,000 people, mainly women and children, have been
abducted and forced into slavery since 1986. Pro-government militias
have raided villages in the south, mostly in Northern Bahr El Ghazel;
the war has also prevented the safe return of rescued abductees
and slaves to their villages in the south, as fighting closed vital
land corridors.
Ending abduction and the use of forced labour need to be an integral
part of any peace agreement reached between the Government and SPLM/A.
"The peace talks are a welcome step. An end to the civil
war means a real chance for both sides to work together and with
NGOs to end the system of slavery that has been allowed to flourish
in Sudan. We must not allow this opportunity to be missed,"
Mary Cunneen Director of Anti-Slavery International says.
Anti-Slavery International, the world's oldest international human
rights organisation, urges both the Government and SPLM/A to take
action to stop the abductions and slavery in Sudan. It is vital
they state publicly these abuses are illegal and that they develop
laws and penalties that will protect people and penalise offenders.
The Wednesday meeting in Kenya between Sudan Vice President Ali Osman
Taha and SPLM/A leader John Garang launches the final stage of peace
talks to end Africa's longest civil war, which has killed up to two
million people and displaced over four million people. |
