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The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights decision to
send a fact-finding mission to Darfur, western Sudan, marks an important
step forward in finding solutions to end the crisis that has displaced
over a million people.
The fact finding mission to investigate massive human rights violations
was announced in the African Commission's Resolution on the Situation
of Human Rights in Darfur, Sudan, issued this month, clearly
demonstrating the Commission's -- Africa's paramount human rights
body -- concern over the deteriorating situation in Darfur.
"A mission to Darfur from the African Commission will play
a vital role helping to stop the impunity and the violence that
has been raging in Darfur since last year. It is vital human rights
observers are granted immediate and open access and all is done
to ensure the urgent relief and protection of civilians,"
Mary Cunneen Director of Anti-Slavery International says.
It is crucial the Sudan Government immediately allows humanitarian
agencies and organisations unhampered access to all who need it
and facilitates the deployment of human rights observers from the
African Union and the international community and the safe return
of refugees and displaced people as it has agreed.
Over one million people have been displaced as Janjaweed
militias -- which are armed and supported by the Government -- have
systematically raided Fur, Masaleet and Zaghawa
villages, destroying homes, murdering civilians, and abducting
and raping women and children -- some as young as seven years old.
Anti-Slavery International is especially concerned as the pattern
is disturbingly similar to the slave raids that plagued and traumatised
southern Sudan for decades and resulted in the enslavement of an
estimated 14,000 people.
Without effective action to end these human rights abuses the situation
of the refugees in Darfur and Chad will remain desperate.
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