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.

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.