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Peacebuilding initiatives in Darfur
A series of conferences aiming to find peaceful solutions to inter-tribal conflicts and to promote awareness of basic human rights.
Description
SUDO have been working in peacebuilding in Darfur since August 2001. They have been meeting tribal leaders and local authorities to address issues such as human rights and tribal conflicts arising from competition over natural resources (grazing land, water, farming land etc.).
Aims / Objectives
After an initial assessment period, SUDO plans to organise a series of conferences to disseminate the culture of peace. The expected result is to increase awareness within communities about basic human rights, specifically the right to life, to freedom of thought and speech, and the right to shared access to resources. This project focuses on Rizaigat and Dinka tribes. Its intermediate objectives are:
- To address the issues of human rights, abduction, and slavery;
- To have laid a ground for a peaceful resolution of tribal conflicts and establish venues for people to talk to people;
- To encourage reform of traditional systems used to resolve tribal conflicts [Judiah] and to provide training for influential leaders.
These aims will be approached by convening clan conferences, training sessions and a joint tribal conference. This joint conference is to decide on the terms of the problem, and parties to the conflict are expected to reach a lasting agreement on peaceful coexistence.
How it is Articulated
SUDO convenes small Clan Conferences to brief communities, to raise their awareness of peace and the necessity of peaceful relations between tribes, and to remind communities of the coexistence and accommodation that has been possible in the past. These conferences aim to:
- Increase awareness within communities about basic human rights, specifically the right to life, and the right to self-determination and freedom of expression, and the right to shared access to resources;
- Bring to mind similar experiences, especially in Africa, and demonstrate the damage that was caused to the communities by conflict;
- Prompt participants to consider the causes, the beneficiaries and the victims of the conflicts;
- Nominate resource persons and tribal leaders to participate in a joint tribal conference;
- Identify effective women in their societies; and
- Form a steering committee for the mobilisation and convening of joint tribal conference between Rizaigat and Dinka.
Achievements / Learning Points
Since the start of the project implementation, training sessions have been conducted as planned. Dozens of clan-based conferences, involving both parties, have been held. An agreement was reached whereby all parties to the conflict agreed to the convening of the Tribal Conference; and a time (December 2005) was set for it. However, this has met several obstacles, delays and postponements. It is now expected to be held in May (2006), and staff members concerned are already in Di’ein to start the implementation of this final stage of the project.
SUDO has been pleased to discover the depth of enthusiasm for increasing grassroots peacebuilding work in Darfur.
Geographical area of operation
Darfur