Advocates for Women and Security Forum launches in Sudan
Women civil society leaders in Sudan have formed the Advocates for Women and Security Forum following a meeting in Khartoum this week.
The Forum has formed around action plans for two initial priorities:
Increasing the political participation of women
Addressing violence against women
The Forum has emerged through a series of consultations and workshops held right across Sudan that culminated this week in Khartoum. Those events invited women’s groups to share their experience and understanding of the current context in Sudan. They explored how women might navigate a way through a fractured and fractious political landscape, and build momentum for a return to transitional government in which women participate as equals.
The Forum’s founders aim to learn from and apply the lessons of the stalled transition in order to achieve their aims. Sudan is a vast and diverse country. As recent history has shown, it is difficult politically, socially, and even logistically to build a truly national movement that is sustainable. The Forum is an attempt to bring women together from across Sudan, uniting behind an agreed common agenda.
The Forum will be served by established women’s groups in Sudan with Mutawinat and Nuba Women for Education and Development Association (NuWeda) serving as the Forum’s secretariat. The project has been supported by the regional Karama network, the Women for Africa Foundation, and the Basque Cooperation Agency.
Samia El Hashmi, Chairwoman of Mutawinat and a co-founder of the forum, said:
“Women’s meaningful political participation is the way forward for democracy in Sudan. That has been the message we have heard from women working on the ground right across the country.
“We have heard too rich regional perspectives on women, peace and security from the, which have further contributed to the formation of this Forum. Women, peace and security offers a means to push for increasing the participation of women in Sudan in decision making, and thus a path to democracy.”
Kamilia Kura, president of NuWeda and a co-founder of the forum, said:
“I am grateful to say that through the Forum we have made a significant contribution to create and expand the civic space in promoting women, peace and security, strengthening women’s leadership and amplifying the role of women in their communities.”
María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, president of the Women for Africa Foundation, said:
“It is essential that the values, the vision, the perspective of women, are taken into account wherever peace is being worked. Real peace, the peace that we women seek, which goes far beyond laying down arms. A peace that is progress, that is development, dialogue, coexistence, respect.”
“To forge that peace and strengthen its state, Sudan deserves and needs its women.”
Hibaaq Osman, founder and CEO of Karama said:
“Karama is deeply honored to support the Advocates for Women and Security Forum. For as long as I can remember, Sudanese women have been the trailblazers for what women in Africa could achieve. Women like Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim showed that African women could be political leaders. Four years ago, Sudanese women again showed their incredible power by taking to the streets and leading a revolution.
“With the Forum, Sudanese women are again showing their ingenuity, determination and resilience. Their plans for action show a serious and sustainable outline for how increasing women’s political participation, and addressing violence against women - two priorities shared by women across Sudan. Their work deserves support within Sudan and internationally.”