SUDAN: Darfur Regional Women's Legislative Caucus Launched in El Fasher

United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) today organized the launch of the Darfur Regional Women's Legislative Caucus, in El Fasher, North Darfur. The establishment of the Caucus is considered an essential step to support the promotion of gender equality in the region. The Caucus aims at working in the interest of Darfurian women to ensure that the Government remains committed to the Darfur Peace Agreement and subsequent agreements in addressing issues related to gender equality in the region. It will further advocate for a legislative response to addressing gender gaps in state laws and policies.

Today's launch, spearheaded by the Mission's Gender Advisory Unit (GAU), was held under the theme of "Women Legislators: Engendering Policies and Laws".

The event, which brought together 64 parliamentarians from the Legislative Councils of the three Darfur States and from the Sudan National Assembly as key participants, was opened by Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Joint Special Representative (JSR) and Head of UNAMID.

In his opening remarks, JSR Gambari, emphasized that UNAMID was ready to play its part in supporting such an important endeavour. "I congratulate the women, elected or not, who heeded the call for placing more women in leadership positions. This event is a further step that builds on that noble effort and on the spirit and intent of the Constitution. I call upon all of you to embrace that challenge," he said.

Ms.Yegerawork Angagaw, Chief of UNAMID GAU, stated in her address to the women participants that, "Today you are making history. We are working together. We are committed to making Darfur and the Sudan a place where women are empowering themselves to move towards a stable Darfur that is inclusive, developing, educating its youth and that is in the process of eradicating poverty."

UNAMID GAU will support the Caucus in building capacity and in developing strategies and indicators for monitoring and evaluating the implementation the Sudan Interim Constitution and reforms in local laws with regard to women's rights, as they relate to international instruments including UNSCR 1325, 1820, 1888, 1889 and UN resolutions on UNAMID mandate.

The Wali (Governor) of North Darfur, Mr. Mohamed Othman Yusif Kibir, as well as a number of Government and UNAMID officials and representatives from women's civil society organizations, also attended today's ceremony.